Loading...Delhi being the national capital of India possesses a great public transport system which caters to the city’s growing population. Every nook of Delhi is connected with a swift transport system. The city boasts its own metro station, city buses, taxis and auto rickshaws that run errands in the city. Most of the public transport vehicles that were earlier feeding on petrol have been changed to CNG to make the city pollution free. To know more about the city’s transportation system check out the detailed info on the public transport facility available in Delhi.
Metro was first introduced in Delhi on December 2002, at present, there are three lines, two traversing the city from east to west and a shorter one running north to south. The red line (line 1) runs from Barwala in the north-west to Shahdara across Yamuna River in the northeast. The yellow line (line 2) runs from Vishwa Vidyalaya in the north to the Central Secretariat interchanging with the red line at Kashmere Gate (by Maharana Pratap ISBT) and further moving towards Old Delhi (Chandni Chowk), New Delhi rail stations and Connaught Place (Rajiv Chowk). The blue line (line 3) starts from Dwarka in the south-west and terminates at Indraprastha near Purana Quila interchanging with the yellow line at Rajiv Chowk.
In the near furture these three lines will be extended at both ends, most notably the yellow line will continue southward to Hauz Khas and beyond, while the blue line will be extended to Anand Vihar ISBT and Noida. To access the metro you need to buy the token available at the Metro Station. The minimum fare for Metro is Rs 6, if you want to access the metro for a couple of times in a day then you can get the tourist card available for Rs 70 and Rs 150 for three days. Those planning a long stay in Delhi may consider buying a stored-value card which can be charged with Rs 100, Rs 200 or Rs 500 at a time that is valid for a year. Delhi Metro is wheel-chair accessible, has ATM facility and offers free travelling to children under 90 cm (3ft) tall if accompanied by an adult.
The fully packed AC and Non AC buses operate at various points in the city. The first digit of the three-digit route number shows the direction of each bus, thus routes starting with “5” head south from the centre towards Mehrauli and those starting with “4” travel south-east towards Kalkaji through Nizamuddin, while those starting with “1” go north through Old Delhi. Most accessed bus routes include 505 from Ajmeri Gate and Connaught Place (Super Bazaar and the corner of Kasturba Gandhi Marg) to the National Museum, Safdarjang’s Tomb, Hauz Khas and the Qutab Minar. Bus route 246 runs from Shivaji Terminal near Connaught Place behind Block P to the Red Fort, connecting Old Delhi with New Delhi. Bus Route 101 travels through Shivaji Terminal to Maharana Pratap ISBT and bus route 85 runs from Connaught Place (Outer Circle, opposite the Plaza Cinema) to Anand Vihar ISBT. Route 181 and 966 connect Connaught Place (Outer Circle, opposite the Plaza Cinema) with Humayun’s Tomb and Nizamuddin.
The traditional three wheeler taxis in India also known as auto or auto rickshaw are the most popular mode of transport. Before getting in you need to negotiate a price, as prices for foreigners may vary according to their haggling skills and the mood of the driver. At Connaught Place you can find several pre-paid auto-rickshaw kiosk, charging government approved rates to the tourists. The second most popular mode of transport is the cycle rickshaws which are not allowed in Connaught Place and other parts of New Delhi but are convenient for short distances. The auto rickshaws don’t charge much and it will be inappropriate if you bargain with them as they do not earn much and have to put a lot of manual labour for dropping their passengers to their due destination.
Delhi’s taxis (white, or black and yellow) charge fifty percent more than auto-rickshaws but are safe and reliable. Drivers belong to local taxi stands, where you can make bookings and fix prices; if you flag a taxi down on the street you’re letting yourself in for some hectic haggling. A surcharge of around 25 percent operates between 11 pm and 5 am. Alternatively, Dial-a-Cab (t1920) and Mega Cabs (t1929) offer a 24-hour call-a-cab service with air-conditioned cars (in summer at least), and tamper-proof digital meters, though you need to pay a bit more than usual. From New Delhi (Connaught Place) to Old Delhi (eastern end of Chandni Chowk, opposite the Red Fort), there’s a shared jeep taxi service charging Rs 6 and leaving when full.
Many tourists choose the chauffeur-driven cars to admire the city’s glory, especially larger groups. Several hotels in Delhi offers car on rentals like DTTCC tourist office and the booths located at the southern end of the Tibetan market on Janpath. DTTDC charges Rs 630 for an eight hour a day within Delhi while the AC vehicle cost around Rs 870. Alternatively, you can also rent bicycles from Mehta Cycles at 5109–10 Main Bazaar, Paharganj, almost opposite Hotel Vishal, charging Rs 50 a day for pushbikes.
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