Sheila Dikshit launches 14 ‘Ho Ho’ air-conditioned tourist buses for Dilli Darshan

NEW DELHI - Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday launched 14 air conditioned buses under Hop on Hop Off Bus Service, arranged by the Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC).

To be known as ‘Ho Ho’ buses, these new purple tourist AC buses will facilitate an easy and convenient Dilli Darshan or, tour across Delhi.

Started in partnership with Purple UMTC Transit Pvt. Ltd. by the DTTDC, the buses will run across the city covering many important tourist destinations including historic monuments, museums and markets.

Tourists can hop on and hop off at any of the stops along the way as per personal convenience.

The special buses will ply at half hour intervals from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM everyday throughout the year.

Stating that the number of buses would be increased after taking into considering tourists’ feedback, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that the new service would prove to be beneficial to the tourists during the Games. “The service is, no doubt, going to stay even after the Games. As per an agreement it has been started for the next 10 years,” she stated.

Dikshit today flagged off a new bus and inspected the buses from inside which were decorated suitably.

She stated that the new service for the public will start from the October 1 whereas the Ho Ho buses will run during 28th to 30th September, 2010 free of cost for under-privileged children, senior citizens, etc.

The buses will start from Coffee Home, BKS Marg and will have stoppages at Delhi Gate, Red Fort, Raj Ghat, National Gallery of Modern Art India Gate, Purana Quila, Humayun Tomb, Defence Colony Metro Station, Lotus Temple, Metropolitan Mall Saket/Select City Walk, Qutab Minar, Hauz Khas Village, Dilli Haat (INA), Safdarjung Tomb, Santushti near Hotel Samrat, Teen Murti Marg-Nehru Museum, National Museum Janpath and Jantar Mantar.

The visitors will be able to visit Khooni Darwaza, Feroz Shah Kotla, Gandhi Museum, Ambedkar Stadium, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Salimgarh Fort, various Samadhis around Raj Ghat, National Stadium, Children’s Park, India Gate, Pragati Maidan, Crafts Museum, National Zoological Park, Isa Khan Tomb, Nizamuddin Dargah, Gole Gumbaj, Sunderwala Burj, Defence Colony Market, Lajpat Nagar Central Market, Kalkaji District Park, ISKCON Temple, Hotel Intercontinental Eros, Hilton Garden Inn, Garden of Five Senses, Quila Rai Pithora, Ahimsa Sthal, Butterfly Park, Indian Handicraft Emporium, Deer Park, Hauz Rani monument, Hauz Khas Market, Dilli Haat, INA Market, Lodi Garden, Jaipur Polo Ground, Nehru Planetarium, Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum, Janpath Market, Crafts Emporium, etc.

The passengers will have to buy one ticket and the could be able to Hop on and Hop Off from any of the stoppages after visiting nearby monuments, markets and other places.

A comprehensive Ho Ho route covers most of the major attractions in Delhi and these are a mix of famous historic sites, museums and markets of Delhi. One will also be able to visit many of Delhi’s most famous places to eat during the tour.

Every bus has a “Guest Relations Executive” who will give information about all the sites which are part of the tour and which can be accessed.

One can hop off the bus at any Ho Ho bus point and explore the site/museum/market at leisure and then hop on the bus from the same Ho Ho point and continue with your tour.

The buses will arrive at every Ho Ho point along the route at an interval of approximately 30 minutes. The Ho Ho buses are spacious, air-conditioned and have on-board entertainment facilities.

Entry tickets to major monuments like Red Fort, Qutab Minar and Humayun’s Tomb and some other sites like Dilli Haat will be available for sale inside the Ho Ho bus.

One can book a ticket online at www.hohodelhi.com or www.delhitourism.gov.in or just hop on the bus and buy a ticket on board.

Some Ho Ho bus stops have been conveniently planned near metro stations to facilitate traveling to other parts of the city.

Metro stations near Rajiv Chowk (Connaught Place), Lajpat Nagar, Dilli Haat and the Lotus Temple are near Ho Ho points. At Rs.300/- only per adult and Rs.150/- every child (below the height of three feet) the Ho Ho bus is surely the best way to see Delhi. (ANI)