Delhi Opens Automated Vehicle Testing Centre at Tehkhand Depot, Adds 50 Electric Buses
The Delhi government on Thursday inaugurated its second Automated Testing Station at the Delhi Transport Corporation depot in Tehkhand. The newly opened facility aims to expand the capital's vehicle fitness-testing infrastructure while reducing dependence on vehicle certification centres located outside the city.
The four-lane automated station has been built with an annual testing capacity of 72,000 vehicles, covering 52,000 heavy and light motor vehicles alongside 20,000 two-wheelers. Two dedicated lanes have been assigned for heavy motor vehicles, one lane for light motor vehicles, and one lane for two-wheelers. The facility is equipped to handle automated checks for braking efficiency, suspension performance, headlight alignment, side-slip, emission levels, and underbody inspections to eliminate human intervention and improve testing accuracy.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that Delhi previously lacked adequate testing infrastructure for its commercial vehicle fleet, which forced vehicle owners to commute to other parts of the National Capital Region to secure fitness certificates. The government stated that the Tehkhand centre, which is the capital's second automated station following the operational facility at Nand Nagri, forms part of a wider push to improve road safety and lower vehicular emissions.
Alongside the testing station rollout, the chief minister flagged off 50 new 12-metre electric buses to join the DTC fleet. Following the induction, Delhi's operational bus strength reached approximately 6,840 buses, comprising 5,088 electric buses and 1,752 CNG vehicles. The government noted that Delhi currently operates the largest electric bus fleet in the country and plans to expand the network to around 14,000 buses by 2028-29. The newly added buses are fitted with CCTV cameras, panic buttons, and other commuter-safety equipment.
The government also introduced an interstate electric bus service connecting Dhaula Kuan with Rewari via Gurgaon, Manesar, and Dharuhera. The 86-kilometre route carries a fare of Rs 153, with departures from Dhaula Kuan scheduled between 6:05 am and 6:00 pm, and return trips from Rewari operating from 9:35 am to 9:25 pm. Additionally, public EV charging facilities featuring four 240-kW chargers and 1,600-kVA compact substations were inaugurated at DTC's Hasanpur and Ghazipur depots near Anand Vihar.
