Commuters in Delhi dealing with GRAP restrictions are experiencing higher travel costs and longer commute times (AI-generated image used for representational purposes)
Brajesh Sharma, who travels from Sector 78 in Noida to Asiad Village in Delhi, has carpooled with two colleagues for years. Usually, the daily petrol bill is around Rs 550 per person. The result: Their daily commuting expense has nearly doubled to Rs 1,200. Over 24 working days, the monthly bill rises from Rs 13,200 to Rs 28,800, an additional Rs 15,600.
Because of last-mile connectivity problems, the metro is not an easy alternative.
“For middle-class salaried employees, this is a substantial financial burden,” Sharma says. NEW DELHI: For commuters affected by GRAP curbs, getting to work has become a trade-off between money, time and convenience. Crowded metro coaches, poor last-mile connectivity and longer journeys often leave them dependent on app-based cabs and autos. As TOI’s Ishita Jairath finds out, many have been forced to rework their daily budgets and routines. But their vehicle does not meet BS-VI emission norms, forcing them to switch to app-based services. The trio has occasionally borrowed BS-VI-compliant cars from friends. Sharma suggests regulated carpooling arrangements or exemptions for verified office commuters. Asfaq Khan is responsible for overseeing the operations of some of the trains at New Delhi Railway Station along with his team.
His 32km one-way commute from Sector 78, Noida, earlier cost Rs 350 by car. But his BS-IV vehicle is affected by the restrictions, forcing him to depend largely on private cabs costing around Rs 700 one way. The arrangement costs him around Rs 30,000 extra every month. Returning to office would mean spending around Rs 530 on a daily cab ride, compared with an estimated monthly fuel bill of Rs 4,500 using a personal vehicle. His expenses have nearly doubled, while travel time has increased from 1 hour 15 minutes to 2-2.5 hours. Alok’s monthly petrol expenditure was earlier Rs 11,000-12,000. He now spends Rs 800-1,000 daily on commuting. Earlier, driving to office took him 40-45 minutes. Each bus generates around Rs 14,000 daily. With all six off the road, potential daily receipts of Rs 84,000 are at stake, while investments in the vehicles remain tied up. Vineet, 56, who has recently dealt with heart problems, says going out for simple chores has become a task as he cannot use his car and pollution is at its peak.
You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Delhi | Silver Rate in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Petrol Price in Delhi | Diesel Price in Delhi | CNG Price in Delhi | LPG Price in Delhi Stay updated with the latest Delhi news.
He occasionally takes the metro, depending on his work schedule and physical energy, but says it is not always practical given the demanding nature of his responsibilities. He says pollution control needs to go beyond restrictions and include reliable public transport and practical arrangements for essential-service personnel. Having never travelled to work by metro, she says driving is more convenient. Vehicles often wait with their engines running, adding to pollution, he says. Dixit says recurring restrictions make it difficult to recover losses during periods when buses can’t operate.
Reaching work on time is essential for him. Cab availability and peak-hour congestion have added to his difficulties. Khan points to the irony of railway employees responsible for keeping trains running smoothly struggling to reach their workplace. Traffic teams should also focus on managing congestion and facilitating smoother movement, rather than just issuing challans, he adds. A Ghaziabad resident working in Vasant Kunj has rented a one-bedroom flat near his office to avoid his 76km daily round trip. Congestion and delays caused by checks made the journey increasingly difficult. The commuter, who did not wish to be named, now stays near his workplace four days a week and returns to Ghaziabad over the weekend. It also means spending most working days away from his family. Another commuter has been working from home to avoid the restrictions. Cab availability is another concern, with some drivers refusing to travel to Delhi. Repeated bookings waste time and add to the inconvenience. For Jitendra Kumar, commuting between Noida and Delhi has become slower and expensive. He attributes the delay to queues at DND toll plaza, where vehicles registered outside Delhi are being checked. His work involves meeting govt officials across Delhi. He takes the metro to central Delhi and uses cabs for local travel. Depending on his schedule, he sometimes takes a cab for the entire journey or uses the metro while returning home late. The metro now takes an hour, excluding additional travel for meetings. Bus contractor Anil Dixit has six buses operating on Delhi routes sitting idle. Prolonged downtime, he adds, is affecting the business’s viability. His dilemma highlights another consequence of the curbs. polluting vehicles off roads, owners who need personal transport may feel compelled to buy new cars even when their existing vehicles are in working condition While the aim is to keep older. Download the TOI App.