: Delhiites will be able to book seats on 'premium' buses through an app from June 1.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on Friday announced ‘Premium Bus Service’, which is aimed at encouraging car owners to use public transport.
The fare of ‘premium buses’ will be high as it is meant to encourage the elite and upper-middle class to use public transport. “The new scheme will provide better alternative option for car users to travel in AC-buses, which will be regulated by the government. We hope that through this scheme, volume of cars will reduce on the roads,” said Transport Minister Gopal Rai.
Mr. Rai said that bus aggregators will have individual apps — like Ola, Uber — and they will be allowed to decide their fares. But if need arises, the government will prescribe upper limit of fares or take steps to check predatory pricing.
Only air-conditioned buses will ply under the scheme. A bus aggregator will have to run at lease 50 vehicles to get a licence from the Delhi government’s Transport department.
With the government giving its nod to the bus apps, Ola and Uber may also launch similar services. The app-based cab aggregators are currently facing criticism for surge pricing during the second phase of the odd-even scheme,
“Ola and Uber, whoever fulfil all conditions of the permits, can run the ‘Premium Bus Service’. Two CCTV cameras, wi-fi and GPS are compulsory in every bus to be plied under the new service. In view of women safety, bus aggregators will have to ensure panic button in their apps,” Mr. Rai said, adding that the registration of such buses will start from June 1.
As per the new policy, bus aggregators will determine the routes and schedule, and upload it on their app. Bus aggregators will have to freeze bookings and display a list of passengers five minutes before departure.
“Drivers of the vehicle can not allow passengers who have not booked their seats,” the Transport minister said.
After accepting a booking, aggregators cannot cancel the service except if the bus breaks-down or force majeure. If the service is cancelled, the company will have to refund passengers double the booking amount. “If the bus aggregator cancels booking for any other reason, they will have to pay ten times the fare amount,” Mr. Rai said.
