Delhi pollution levels spike due to poor public transit infra: CAG

NEW DELHI: A report released by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on Tuesday, December 3, has shown that Delhi government’s inability to develop two inter-state bus terminals (ISBTs) in the north and south western entry points of the city has contributed significantly in spiking pollutions levels in the capital. The move, which was directed by Supreme Court (SC) two decades back, would have resulted in curbing the entry of over 1750 diesel buses in the city on a daily basis. It also highlighted that upgradation of the ISBT Kashmere Gate has not been completed even after more than eight years of stipulated completion date.

The report further criticised Delhi Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation (DTIDC) Limited “failure” to upgrade the existing transit infrastructure, which requires 1,397 bus que shelters across the city. The report also registered Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) as the biggest loss making PSUs operating in Delhi. Losses range from Rs 2914.40 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 3843.62 crore in the year of 2017-18.