Odd-even day in Delhi: DTC buses estimated to have carried 4 million commuters

DTC buses were in great demand on Friday, and estimated 4 million commuters may have availed the services of the city's public transporter on Day One of the odd-even road-rationing experiment in the national capital, while Delhi Metro saw no substantial jump in its ridership.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) are expected to carry the major share of additional commuters during the 15-day-long road-rationing experiment. The restrictions apply from 8 A M to 8 PM from Monday to Saturday.

According to DTC, its 4,120 buses came out on roads in the morning, though in normal days, 3,800 buses come out in the streets during the same period. DTC's spokesperson R S Minhas said that in the evening shift today, as many as 4,063 buses plied against around 3,700 in normal days.

Around 4 million commuters may have commuters used the DTC bus services one the first day of the odd-even scheme, a senior DTC official said, adding, the exact figure will come by Saturday only.

Metro's ridership data was around 19.08 lakh at 8 PM, much less compared to the average daily ridership of around 27 lakh. Corresponding figures on December 18, the last working Friday, was 20.29 lakh, a DMRC official said.

Meanwhile, Minhas said that 'DTC Parayavaran Bus Sewa', under which 3,000 private buses have been given special permits for plying during the 15-day-period of the pilot plan, also carried passengers.

"1,226 private buses ('DTC Parayavaran Bus Sewa') came out on roads in the morning and evening shifts respectively," he said.