Delhi government welcomes SC approval to buy 500 standard buses

New Delhi Aug 2 (IANS) The Delhi government on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court s decision to allow it to purchase 500 standard-floor buses and emphasised on the city s urgent need to increase environment-friendly public transport.
Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot in a tweet said: "Welcome decision by the Supreme Court allowing Delhi government to procure 500 standard floor buses. There is an urgent need to augment environment-friendly public transport in Delhi."
The Delhi government assured the top court that hydraulic lifts would be installed in the buses for the benefit of differently-abled persons.
The apex court s order came on an appeal by the Delhi government and the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) challenging 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 decision to buy buses has been taken considering the dire need to augment the existing bus fleet particularly on rural routes the government said.

--IANS sd/pgh/sed