Delhi Darshan revival: No more HoHo, new fixed circuits and e-buses to cover key attractions

Delhi Darshan

The Delhi government is preparing to bring back its popular city sightseeing bus service after a five-year pandemic-induced gap. The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), in collaboration with the tourism department, is working on a fresh version of the ‘Delhi Darshan’ service.

However, this time, instead of the traditional Hop-On Hop-Off (HoHo) model, the plan is to operate the buses on a fixed loop with designated stops at key tourist locations, Hindustan Times reported.

According to the officials, the new service will run on two planned circuits or routes, operating during the evening hours, from around 4 or 5 pm until 9 pm. The decision to shift the service to the evening was taken to allow tourists to enjoy the illuminated monuments and newly added attractions like the Prime Ministers’ Museum (PM Sangrahalaya), the National War Memorial, and the lighting displays at key buildings and heritage sites.

“We have seen from experience that Hoho service cannot be very successful in a busy city like Delhi because we cannot maintain the kind of frequency needed for it,” HT quoted an official as saying.

To begin with, DTC has handed over two electric buses to the tourism department to run a pilot version of the revamped service. “We had approved the proposal during the last board meeting of DTC and two electric buses have now been handed over to the tourism department for a pilot. If there is a higher demand, we will discuss if more buses are needed,” transport minister Pankaj Singh said.

During the 2025 state budget in March, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced a significant boost in funding for tourism. She allocated Rs 117 crore for tourism-related projects, which is an increase of over 77 per cent from the previous year’s Rs 66 crore. She also highlighted that major sites like Kartavya Path, the New Parliament House, and the War Memorial would be promoted as key attractions for both local and international visitors.

As part of the relaunch, the two electric buses will be visually redesigned with vibrant wraps showcasing famous Delhi landmarks. These wraps will also carry Delhi government branding. Officials stated that a revenue-sharing model has been worked out with DTC, which has provided the buses on a special hire basis.

Transport department officials reiterated that the service will be renamed and not be called a “Hoho” service, as it is already a name used by private operators. The exact route, distance, start and end points and fares are yet to be finalised.

“A new name is being worked out and the bus will cover around 60-70 kilometres every day from morning to evening and will cover several important tourist destinations and monuments across the city. However, the exact details are being worked out,” a tourism department official was quoted by HT as saying.

Before the pandemic, the DTC operated daily Delhi Darshan AC buses, which started from Scindia House at 9.15 am and ended at 5.45 pm. Popular stops included iconic locations like Red Fort, Raj Ghat, Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple, and Akshardham. The fare was Rs 200 for adults and Rs 100 for children aged 5-12. The original route passed through several key roads and neighbourhoods, including Connaught Place, Lodhi Road, and Nehru Place.