Delhi’s 3,575 bus stops and shelters are set to receive digital passenger information systems, route maps, panic alarms and improved lighting under a proposed modernisation project estimated to cost around Rs 650 crore. The tender is expected to be issued next week, with the selected company required to complete the redevelopment within six months of receiving the contract.
The project will be implemented through the Delhi Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation (DTIDC) with private-sector participation. The proposed digital passenger information system will be connected to buses’ GPS data, allowing commuters to see where a bus is located and estimate how long it will take to reach a particular stop.
The upgraded shelters are also expected to display bus numbers, routes and real-time arrival information in one place. Route maps modelled on those used in metro stations will show the starting and ending points of services, along with key stops along the way.
Other proposed facilities include panic alarms, LED lighting and displays providing weather-related information. Provisions may also be made for installing solar panels at selected locations. Digital advertising panels are planned for the shelters, with advertising revenue intended to support redevelopment and long-term maintenance.
The scheme will cover existing bus shelters across Delhi. A citywide survey will also be conducted to identify locations where new bus queue shelters are required. This is intended to bring currently uncovered or inadequately served stops into the planning process, although the report does not specify how many new shelters may eventually be built.
Transport Minister Pankaj Singh said the plan had been prepared and that tenders would be issued the following week. According to the minister, the proposed system would make bus transport more reliable and transparent by giving passengers information about their journey from its starting point to the destination.
The six-month completion condition will make the tender and contract-management process important to the rollout. The supplied report does not provide the proposed number of contracts, the detailed financing structure or the technical standards for GPS data integration, power supply and maintenance. It also does not specify whether every stop will receive the same set of facilities or whether installations will vary by location.
The transport department is separately working on the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in bus operations. The proposed AI-based bus management system would use historical and real-time traffic data to improve arrival-time estimates, identify possible delays and support the management of bus services. No implementation date or operational details for that system have been announced in the report.
The next formal step is the expected release of the DTIDC tender. The selected company will then have six months from the award of the contract to complete the redevelopment work under the proposed terms.