The new buses aims to address last-mile connectivity challenges in Delhi, Ms. Gupta said. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday inaugurated 400 new electric buses under the Delhi Electric Vehicle Interconnector (DEVi) scheme.

The scheme, first introduced in the 2023 Delhi budget by the Aam Aadmi Party government as ‘Mohalla buses’, has now been renamed and launched by the BJP government.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Gupta said the initiative will help address last-mile connectivity issues in the city. “The buses will provide commuters with eco-friendly, comfortable public transportation between metro stations and bus terminals,” she said. 2,080 more electric buses will be added to the fleet by the end of this year, she added.

The 400 buses will first ply across east and west Delhi, covering the areas of Ghazipur, Vinod Nagar East and Nangloi. According to a Delhi Transport Department (DTC) official, 146 routes have been selected for the plying of these buses based on data of people’s movements.

Rohtash Sharma, a commuter who just learnt about the initiative on Friday, told The Hindu that if the bus service truly runs until midnight as promised, it would be of great help to the people of Delhi. “Finding last mile connectivity during late nights are fairly difficult by itself, add to that the high costs and it’s a nightmare,” she added.

Each DEVi bus has a total 23 seats, out of which six seats are reserved for women. Each bus can also accommodate 13 standing passengers. The fare structure will range between ₹10 to ₹25 per person.