CAG Report Calls for Expansion of Bus Fleet and Enhanced Last-Mile Connectivity to Tackle Delhi's Air Pollution
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Synopsis
A CAG report emphasizes the urgent need for the Delhi Government to address the shortage of public transport buses and improve last-mile connectivity to combat worsening air quality due to vehicular emissions.
Key Takeaways
- Address the **shortage of 2,250 buses**.
- Implement **route rationalization** for optimal bus use.
- Enhance **last-mile connectivity** options.
- Boost enforcement at **entry points** to monitor pollution.
- Explore alternatives like **Light Rail Transit** and **Monorail**.
New Delhi, April 1 (NationPress) In order to combat the declining air quality in the national capital caused by vehicle emissions, the Delhi Government must urgently tackle the shortage of 2,250 public transport buses and enhance last-mile connectivity options, as per a report from the CAG on air pollution.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India's report on the performance audit of ‘Prevention and Mitigation of Vehicular Air Pollution in Delhi', presented by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in the Assembly on Tuesday, emphasized that the Government should prioritize route rationalization to optimize the use of the current fleet.
The CAG report advised that the skills of the current repair and maintenance staff should be aligned with the operational buses through appropriate training and application of their services for the proper maintenance of the vehicles.
It highlighted that due to the lack of public transport buses, 238 out of 657 designated bus routes were entirely unserved.
Moreover, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses have ceased providing connectivity to the NCR. The number of Gramin-Sewa Vehicles for last-mile connectivity has also remained stagnant since May 2011, according to the central government auditor's report.
The CAG expressed concern regarding the insufficient monitoring of polluting vehicles entering Delhi's borders, noting that there are 128 entry points into the UT.
“Of these, 80 percent of the commercial vehicles enter Delhi from 13 entry points,” the report stated.
However, the audit found that enforcement teams were only deployed at seven entry points in the national capital. “In addition to staff shortages, the enforcement teams lacked vehicle-mounted PUC equipment to check for visibly polluting vehicles,” the report explained.
To meet the escalating demands of Delhi, the report suggested, “The Government should actively explore and finalize plans to provide appropriate alternatives to public transport buses so that the allocated budget for this purpose is utilized effectively.”
The CAG report mentioned that no action had been taken by the AAP government on alternatives like eco-friendly Light Rail Transit and Monorail.
“The severe shortage of buses and the lack of last-mile connectivity options have forced the public to rely on personal vehicles, including two-wheelers, leading to a doubling of the number of vehicles in the last decade. This has had a detrimental effect on air quality in Delhi,” the report concluded.
