Delhi:Luxury buses to IGI

After the metro’s upcoming 20-minute line to IGI from Connaught Place, the urban development ministry along with Delhi Transport Corporation is planning a ‘‘premium’’ bus service to the airport, with worldclass buses, lounges at waiting areas across the city and refreshments and check-in on the way.The service was given an in-principle nod .The bus service, which will be jointly run by Urban Mass Transit Company — a joint venture between the ministry of urban development and IL&FS — and DTC, will target middle and upper income Delhiites. The buses will have TV screens, music, baggage space and flight checkin facilities. All passengers will be served beverages on the way, and the staff will be well-trained and courteous.A preliminary list of about 27 pick-up points has been prepared from where the service will operate. At each of these points, world-class waiting rooms will be constructed and a tie-up with radio cabs is being suggested for further connectivity from these points to the final destination. An online booking facility is also being looked into. The proposal is to let UMTC arrange for the buses, their operation, maintenance and staff while DTC provides depots, terminals and permits, but the finer details are yet to be worked out.The tentative pick points shortlisted are South: Jorbagh, Panchsheel Park,Vasant Kunj, Maharani Bagh, Defence Colony, Chanakyapuri, Sarita Vihar, Mehrauli Road .East: Patparganj, Mayur Vihar, Vivek Vihar, Preet Vihar, Laxmi Nagar. West: Janakpuri, Rajouri Garden, Dwarka, Vikaspuri, Naraina. North: Civil Lines, Model Town, Kingsway Camp, Pitampura, Rohini .NCR: Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad