DTC Buses To Get Safer Soon - Delhi’s New Safety Playbook Explained

DTC buses are set for a significant safety overhaul after Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh ordered a wide-ranging upgrade of protocols across the fleet. The directive came during a review meeting on Monday, where officials briefed him on recent fire incidents involving one CNG bus and two electric buses.

Senior members of the Transport Department, Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), and bus manufacturers were present as preliminary findings were shared. Following the briefing, Singh pushed for an immediate shift to stricter preventive maintenance, deeper technical audits for both CNG and electric buses, improvements to low-voltage wiring, and real-time monitoring of battery health, inverter temperatures, and ripple current.

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He also instructed that fire-suppression systems in engine and battery bays be strengthened, while all depots prepare for faster and more coordinated emergency responses. The minister asked DTC to fold in recommendations from an IIT-Delhi expert committee while preparing a detailed safety action plan.

As part of the revamped protocol, any electric bus that has crossed 200 charging cycles will now receive a full maintenance inspection to check for overcharging, overheating, and compact-area faults. Manufacturers whose buses were involved in fire incidents will undergo a complete safety audit as well.

Underlining the importance of accountability, Singh called for telematics-based diagnostics to flag abnormalities, proper documentation of all checks, and upskilling of depot technicians to handle more advanced safety requirements. He also told DTC to standardise isolation distances at charging points, ensure sufficient fire-hydrant coverage at depots, and replace ageing components without delay.

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“The recent fire incidents in one CNG and two electric buses are a matter of serious concern. Every bus must meet the highest safety standards,” Singh said. “The expert recommendations from IIT Delhi will be fully incorporated. All agencies have been asked to take corrective measures and increase monitoring so that such incidents do not recur.”

(With inputs from PTI)