Delhi's bus cluster scheme will debut on 32 routes in South Delhi in end of January, state transport minister Arvinder Singh said on Monday. A private transport firm, Star Bus Service, will be rolling out 50 cluster buses (seating capacity of 35 people, with space for a wheelchair) on South Delhi roads by january end, Singh informed at an event at the state secretariat.

Subsequently, more than 50 buses will be added every month to provide safe, efficient and better transportation system for commuters of Delhi, he added. The government hopes to ease the inconvenience caused by the phasing out of the Blueline buses by bringing in 17 clusters for routes not well connected with the Metro or other public transport. However, it has approved only five so far.

The buses will be colour coded - non-AC buses will be orange while AC ones will be purple. The cluster one buses will be a fleet of 231 lo-floor models plying on 32 routes in South Delhi. These buses will be fitted with automatic location system (ALS) - a positioning software - and  electronic ticket machines which will be called automatic fare collection system (AFCS). They will also be equipped with gas leakage alarm system, emergency exits and escape hatch, and will confirm to Euro IV pollution norms.