The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation launched a hydrogen-powered shuttle bus service in New Delhi's Central Vista area on Friday [1].
The move represents a shift toward zero-emission public transport for government employees in the capital's administrative heart. By reducing reliance on fossil-fuel vehicles, the DMRC aims to align with national calls for sustainable and cost-effective commuting [2].
This new service is designed to support the daily transit needs of officials working within the Central Vista region [3]. The initiative follows a directive from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to implement greener transport solutions across the city [2].
Operations are scheduled for all working days from Monday to Friday, though the service does not run on gazetted holidays [1]. To maximize utility for the workforce, the shuttles operate during two specific peak office windows [1].
Morning service runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., while the evening window spans from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. [1]. These hours are intended to capture the primary arrival and departure times of government staff, reducing congestion in the high-security zone.
While some reports initially indicated the rollout was pending, current data confirms the service has been introduced to the fleet [1, 3]. The hydrogen-powered vehicles produce no tailpipe emissions, offering a cleaner alternative to traditional diesel or petrol buses previously used for last-mile connectivity.
“The DMRC launched a hydrogen-powered shuttle bus service in New Delhi's Central Vista area.”
The introduction of hydrogen fuel cell technology in Delhi's administrative hub serves as a pilot for larger-scale urban decarbonization. By targeting the Central Vista, the DMRC is testing the viability of hydrogen infrastructure in high-density, high-security areas before potentially expanding the technology to the broader public transit network.
