After a hiatus of over 20 years, the Delhi government is set to relaunch inter-state bus services, this time with a green twist. The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) will operate a fleet of 100 electric buses connecting the capital to 17 cities across six states. According to senior officials, these services will be entirely electric, reflecting the city’s commitment to sustainable mobility. The proposal, recently approved by Transport Minister Pankaj Singh during a DTC board meeting, has set the wheels in motion for procurement and coordination with partner states to commence operations.
Electric bus routes finalised across six states for delhi’s inter-state service
Delhi’s upcoming inter-state electric bus service will connect the capital to multiple cities across six states—Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir. The planned destinations include Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun, Ayodhya, Lucknow, Moradabad, Alwar, Bikaner, Jaipur, Amritsar, Patiala, Chandigarh, Panipat, and Jammu. According to officials, the network will cover five cities each in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, three in both Rajasthan and Punjab, and one each in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir.
The buses being procured will be 12-metre-long, fully electric, and equipped with air conditioning—specifically designed for long-distance travel, unlike the city service models. They will also feature GPS tracking, CCTV surveillance, and onboard panic buttons to enhance passenger safety.
Delhi’s inter-state electric bus service to promote green mobility with app-based ticketing
Reinforcing its commitment to sustainable transportation, the Delhi government will deploy only electric buses for its revived inter-state service. Transport Minister Pankaj Singh emphasized that the initiative aligns with the city’s green mobility goals. “These routes were proposed by the DTC board, and we’ve initiated the process of procuring buses and coordinating with other states,” he said.
The new fleet will feature app-based ticketing and reserved seating, catering specifically to commuters travelling between Delhi, NCR cities, and neighbouring states. According to officials, the service will be launched as soon as the buses begin arriving.
DTC had last operated inter-state services in 2004, but the shift from diesel to CNG led to a gradual decline. By 2010, with no compatible refuelling infrastructure in other states, operations were fully halted. The new electric service aims to attract private vehicle users, offering air-conditioned buses with fares slightly higher than city routes but still more affordable than private operators. Fare structures are yet to be finalised.
Officials added that historic data was used to select viable routes, many of which were part of the previous DTC network that connected Delhi to cities like Jaipur, Chandigarh, Udaipur, Shimla, Haridwar, Chamba, Dharamsala, Ganganagar, and Pathankot.
