Finally the Delhi government is going to issue a notification on phasing out about 1,600 private Blueline/Whiteline buses from the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) routes during the Commonwealth Games. However, following protests from the operators, the time period has been reduced. Transport department sources say the private buses will not be allowed to ply on these routes between September 26 and October 19.

Though the awaited notification is not expected to give any clear directives regarding temporary shifting of the buses from existing routes falling in NDMC jurisdiction to other routes, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) officers fear the Blueline/Whiteline will operate on other routes to make money. During the Games the authorities’ focus will be on the event and thus they won’t be able to monitor these buses effectively and this in turn will affect the common man.

The DTC authorities have expressed their inability to provide as many buses as those removed from the NDMC roads. The officials say they can provide only 50 percent of those buses.