Mon Mar 24 19:40:16 UTC 2025: ## Delhi DTC Faces Scrutiny: CAG Report Exposes Massive Debt and Operational Failures

**New Delhi, March 25, 2025** – A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report tabled in the Delhi Assembly on Monday has revealed a massive financial crisis plaguing the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). The report, covering the six-year period ending March 31, 2022, shows the DTC’s liabilities ballooned from ₹28,263 crore in 2015-16 to ₹65,274 crore in 2021-22, accompanied by operational losses totaling ₹14,198.86 crore.

The report, the third of 14 CAG reports on the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, has sparked a political row between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the AAP. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva accused the former AAP government of a “DTC scam,” holding former ministers accountable. The AAP countered that the report did not reveal any corruption, arguing that the government prioritized affordable public transport, including free travel for women, leading to the financial strain. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced the release of a White Paper detailing the previous government’s tenure.

The CAG report highlighted several critical issues within the DTC:

* **Shrinking Fleet and Underutilized Funds:** The DTC’s fleet size decreased from 4,344 to 3,937 between 2015 and 2023, with delays in procuring electric buses resulting in a ₹29.86 crore penalty.
* **Aging Bus Fleet:** The proportion of old, low-floor buses increased dramatically from 0.13% to 44.96% during the period.
* **Operational Inefficiency:** The DTC operated only 57% of its routes and failed to recover operational costs on any route. Frequent breakdowns cost ₹660.60 crore.
* **Failed Projects:** Several projects, including the automatic fare collection system (non-functional since May 2020) and the CCTV system (installed but not fully functional), suffered from significant delays and inefficiencies, despite considerable financial investment.

The report concludes that the DTC’s financial woes and operational failures warrant serious attention and reform. The ongoing political debate surrounding the report’s findings is expected to continue in the coming days.

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