Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
The entry of 194 BS-4 buses operated by the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC) on the Delhi route has been halted, leaving passengers stranded and triggering a crisis for the state’s road transport. The ban follows the Delhi government’s decision to restrict BS-4 vehicles under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), aimed at combating air pollution in the capital.
Over 400 buses from Garhwal and Kumaon divisions operate daily on the Delhi route, including services from Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Kotdwar, and various regions of Kumaon region. However, from Saturday, the entry of 194 BS-4 buses was suspended after two such buses were penalized in Delhi on Saturday. UTC headquarters promptly directed depots not to dispatch BS-4 buses to Delhi.
With the ban in effect, only 269 buses—comprising 180 CNG, 12 BS-6 Volvo, and 77 BS-6 ordinary buses—are now permitted to ply on the Delhi route. Additionally, 53 new BS-6 buses are expected to join the fleet within a week. However, the restricted fleet has caused significant inconvenience, particularly to passengers from remote areas, as competition for seats intensifies.
“The reduction in services to Delhi will inconvenience passengers, especially those traveling from rural areas. To mitigate this, BS-6 buses operating on local routes are being reassigned to the Delhi route,” said Pawan Mehra, General Manager (Operations), UTC.
The Delhi route is a major revenue generator for Uttarakhand Roadways, accounting for over 60% of its income. Officials estimate daily revenue losses of approximately Rs 30 lakh due to the ban on BS-4 buses. However, UTC plans to redeploy the affected buses on intra-state routes and other state routes to minimize financial impact.
Despite these measures, passengers have been bearing the brunt. On Saturday, hundreds of commuters waited for hours at rural depots as bus availability dropped sharply. Passengers described chaotic scenes, with overcrowded buses leaving little space for additional passengers.
“We waited for hours, but the number of buses to Delhi has drastically reduced. The few that arrive are fully packed,” said a passenger from Rudrapur bus depot.
The Delhi government’s strict enforcement of GRAP reflects its commitment to addressing pollution, but it has placed Uttarakhand Roadways and its passengers in a difficult position. As the situation unfolds, UTC hopes that the addition of new BS-6 buses will alleviate some of the challenges faced by passengers.