Commonwealth Games: Special buses, Metro station-stadium shuttle service for spectators

A special DTC bus fleet, shuttle services from Metro stations to stadia and free travel in public transport for those carrying tickets are some aspects of a spectator transport plan formulated by the organisers of the Commonwealth Games to be held here in October.

The Games Organising Committee along with the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has chalked out the plan to take care of transport requirements of the "ticketed spectators".

Some of the proposed measures include introduction of a special fleet of buses, providing a regular shuttle service to and from the various Metro stations across Delhi and Games venues, free passes for Games volunteers and workforce on duty, sources in the Organising Committee said.

"There are also plans to integrate the Delhi Metro and DTC services so that all spectators can commute conveniently between different locations in and around Delhi. The ticketed spectators will be entitled for free public transport in DTC buses and Delhi Metro, valid for the day of the competition," a source said.

The Commonwealth Games, to be held between October 3-14 in the national capital this year, is expected to draw around 100,000 foreign tourists to the city.

If the large number of Indian tourists and residents of Delhi and National Capital Region is also taken into account, the spectator count per day per event is expected to be in thousands per venue.

To ferry spectators to and from different Games' venues, DTC will be providing a special bus fleet consisting of more than 600 CNG-fuelled buses.

The OC and DTC have also identified various stops from where the buses will pick and drop passengers, the sources said, adding, the entire Delhi has been divided into five zones for the purpose --'East', 'West and South West', 'North', 'South and South East' and 'West and North West'.

The zones will have 'Hub Points' like Anand Vihar ISBT, Dhaula Kuan or RK Puram, ISBT (Kashmere Gate), Nehru Place Terminal and Shivaji Stadium which will serve as various 'Focal Points'.

The DTC Focal Point Bus Service would also be integrated with Delhi Metro wherein the buses would transport passengers up to Metro stations for venues that have Metro connectivity.

"This is expected to result in on-road traffic reduction with the Metro ferrying about 2000 commuters per trip as compared to a bus that would have a far lesser capacity, a source said. The frequency of shuttle services is currently being planned," the source said.

The requirement for the workforce, including volunteers, is being worked out on the basis of their deployment at various venues on shifts. The public transport is also accordingly proposed to be scheduled to suit the requirement.