Now a free AC ride from India Gate to North Block, South Block

Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit flagging off the Park and Ride Bus Service, in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo: Sandeep Saxena

To ease the parking woes for those visiting or working in various Central Government and other offices located between Ashok Road and Akbar Road on both sides of Rajpath in Lutyens? Delhi, the Delhi Transport Corporation on Wednesday launched a free air-conditioned Park and Ride Service bus service.

The service was launched with the flagging off of a bus from Nirman Bhawan by both Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Union Minister for Urban Development S. Jaipal Reddy. Union Minister of State for Urban Development Saugat Rai and Delhi Transport Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely were also present on the occasion.

Ms. Dikshit lauded the initiative and hoped that it would bring about a positive change. She said a large number of people would find this service very useful and on gauging the response DTC would accordingly even increase the number of buses.

Mr. Reddy also expressed his pleasure over the start of a new service that would largely benefit government employees and other visitors and would facilitate decongesting of Lutyens? Delhi.

The service would operate on two routes. The buses would go from C-Hexagon India Gate to various Central Government offices located on either side of Rajpath. The buses would run on both these routes at a frequency of 15 minutes between 8-30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

It was informed that the first route, P-1, will cover Jamnagar Hosue, Vigyan Bhawan, Nirman Bhawan, Vayu Bhawan, Rail Bhawan, Red Cross, Transport Bhawan and North Block and see the bus going back to C-Hexagon via the same route whereas.

The other route, P-2, will cover Andhra Bhawan, IGNCA, Shastri Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, G-Block K Kamraj Bhawan, Sena Bhawan and South Block and the buses would also take the same path on the way back to C-Hexagon.

Air-conditioned buses have been put on this service, which has been kept free for the time being, to encourage use by private vehicle users. The scheme would also encourage parking at C-Hexagon as two Metro stations at Patel Chowk and Central Secretariat have been connected through it and therefore many would be encouraged to park there and use these buses for getting on to the Metro network.

Since the two routes also criss-cross Rajpath, the facility would help people to park at C-Hexagon and access any of the offices located on either side of this avenue.