New Delhi: In a significant push towards infrastructure modernisation and financial sustainability, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has partnered with state-owned Engineering Projects India Ltd (EPIL) for the commercial redevelopment of its Banda Bahadur Marg and Sukhdev Vihar bus depots. The move is expected to generate around Rs 2,616 crore in revenue, which will be reinvested in revamping DTC’s transit facilities.
The proposal, which was approved last week, marks a shift towards a self-sustainable redevelopment model, with no financial burden on DTC. Engineering Projects India Ltd, a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, submitted the initial proposal in October last year, followed by a detailed project roadmap in November.
According to EPIL’s estimates, the redevelopment of the Banda Bahadur Marg depot is expected to generate Rs 1,858 crore, while the Sukhdev Vihar project is projected to bring in around Rs 758 crore. The Banda Bahadur Marg project is slated for completion within 28 months, while the Sukhdev Vihar facility is expected to be ready in 21 months.
“This initiative reflects DTC’s broader strategy to improve its financial health through asset monetisation, on the lines of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s (DMRC) model,” a senior DTC official said. “EPIL’s expertise in executing large-scale infrastructure projects will be crucial in transforming these depots into modern, multi-utility transport hubs.”
The redevelopment plan is part of a larger initiative to enhance parking capacity, construct multi-level depots, revamp residential colonies, and commercialise existing transport assets.
DTC operates a fleet of 2,372 CNG buses and 1,612 electric buses, with 1,040 additional e-buses set to be inducted shortly. The corporation has been exploring ways to generate non-fare revenue through advertisements, rentals from mobile towers, booths, and leasing to Government offices.
Over the past few years, DTC has entered into strategic agreements with PSUs like NBCC (India) Ltd and DMRC to monetise its land assets. While NBCC will be responsible for implementing the project from concept to commissioning, EPIL’s role as project planner and technical consultant is central to the successful execution of the initiative.
The collaboration with EPIL reinforces the government’s emphasis on leveraging PSU expertise for urban infrastructure development, while also creating long-term value from underutilised assets.
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