After years in the red, DTC income gains traction; rises Rs 173cr in 2025–26

New Delhi: Long burdened by losses, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has reported a significant rise in income, posting an increase of around Rs 173 crore in 2025-26 (till March 26).

The corporation’s total income rose from Rs 822.5 crore in 2024-25 to Rs 995.5 crore, reflecting improved operational efficiency and reforms undertaken by the Delhi govt.Calling it a turnaround, transport minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said the improvement was driven by collective effort within the organisation and decisive policy interventions. “The previous govt left DTC in a financially weakened state, burdened with losses and inefficiencies.

The present govt has taken concrete steps to revive the corporation, streamline operations and make it a more financially stable and accountable public transport entity,” Singh said.DTC is the backbone of the city’s road-based public transport system. As of Feb, it operates 24 depots. By March this year, the combined fleet strength stood at around 6,100 buses, including CNG and electric vehicles. It carries about 24.3 lakh passengers daily, operating over 32,500 trips across 517 city routes and 15 NCR routes.

It also runs an international bus service between Delhi and Kathmandu.Official data show that ticketed income increased from Rs 327.2 crore to Rs 379.8 crore, registering a year-on-year growth of Rs 52.5 crore. Earnings from special hire services rose from Rs 82.7 crore to Rs 99.2 crore, an increase of Rs 16.5 crore over the same period.“The sharpest rise has been recorded under miscellaneous income, which climbed from Rs 342.7 crore to Rs 446.6 crore — a jump of Rs 103.9 crore.

This category includes revenue from advertisements, rent receipts and penalty collections, and has emerged as the key contributor to DTC’s overall financial improvement,” an official said.According to officials, the growth has been driven by improved performance across major revenue streams and a focused push towards diversification. The corporation has also seen an increase in average monthly income, from Rs 68.5 crore to Rs 82.9 crore, indicating stronger financial discipline and better resource utilisation.“Our approach goes beyond merely increasing revenue. It focuses on strengthening institutional capacity, improving service delivery and ensuring that Delhi’s citizens receive reliable, safe and accessible public transport,” Singh said, adding that the govt remained committed to sustained reforms, revenue expansion and integration of modern, sustainable transport solutions to ensure long-term financial sustainability and a better commuter experience.