SC allows Delhi govt to purchase 500 standard-floor buses

The Supreme Court allowed today the Delhi government to purchase 500 standard-floor buses to take care of "pressing needs" of commuters using public transport here.

A bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, while taking note of shortage of buses here, said it was only an interim measure after the Delhi government assured the court that hydraulic lifts would be installed in these buses for the benefit of differently-abled persons.

The court was hearing an appeal filed by the Delhi government and the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) challenging the Delhi High Court's June 1 order barring them from procuring 2,000 standard-floor buses without the enabling facility for the special category commuters.

The court took into consideration the argument of the Delhi government that the decision to buy buses was taken considering the dire need to augment the existing bus fleet, particularly on rural routes.

The apex court had on July 25 asked probing questions to the Delhi government and the DTC over their intention to purchase 2,000 standard-floor cluster buses, which are not friendly to differently-abled persons.

The top court had asked the government whether it intends to make these cluster buses friendly to differently-abled persons by fitting them with hydraulic lifts.

The Delhi government had told the bench that it would fit hydraulic lifts in each bus for wheel-chair bound differently abled persons, which would entail a total cost of around Rs 80-90 crores.

It had told the court that a decision was taken to purchase additional 500 low-floor buses which will be friendly to differently-abled persons.

The government had told the apex court that the high court had erred in staying the tender for purchase of 2,000 standard-floor buses as they have met all required criterion.