In New Delhi, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has terminated 467 bus marshals following an internal investigation that revealed significant irregularities, including the use of fake documents and the presence of criminal records. DTC officials reported that approximately 90 marshals had criminal backgrounds, while 374 others provided false information or possessed counterfeit identity cards. As a result of the investigation, all individuals involved have been dismissed and reassigned to the Directorate of Home Guards. Officials emphasized that this action was crucial for ensuring the safety of passengers, particularly women.
A senior DTC officer stated, “Marshals are deployed for security on buses, and it is inappropriate to have individuals with criminal backgrounds on duty.” Currently, around 3,200 Home Guards serve as bus marshals across 3,500 buses in Delhi, with each earning Rs 970 daily. This system was implemented during the previous Aam Aadmi Party administration. Concerns regarding the arrangement increased after a recent incident involving a marshal named Man Singh, who was arrested for allegedly biting a conductor’s finger during a dispute over the bus route on the Noida Sector 62–Dhaula Kuan line. The altercation reportedly started when the marshal and driver insisted on using a flyover, while the conductor advocated for the parallel road.
The Transport Department has now opted to conduct a comprehensive review of the system. Although bus marshals are still operating in 39 of Delhi’s 41 DTC depots, officials indicated that the recruitment process will be made more transparent in the future to prevent security breaches.
