Delhi Metro Launches Hydrogen Shuttle Service
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will begin operating a hydrogen-powered shuttle bus service in New Delhi’s Central Vista district from 15 May 2026, marking a new step in India’s push towards clean urban mobility and hydrogen-powered public transport.
The initiative is being launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs and the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas to improve last-mile connectivity between Central Secretariat and Seva Teerth Metro stations and major government offices in the Central Vista area.
Under the programme, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) is supplying two hydrogen-fuelled buses with seating capacity for 35 passengers. The buses are equipped with GPS tracking and CCTV systems to support operational monitoring, passenger safety, and route management.
The shuttle service will operate on working days during peak office hours, with buses running every 30 minutes in clockwise and anti-clockwise loops connecting key government buildings and landmarks including Kartavya Bhawan, Vigyan Bhawan, Nirman Bhawan, India Gate, National Stadium, and the National Gallery of Modern Arts.
DMRC will manage operations, ticketing, conductors, and passenger services, while IOCL will provide hydrogen fuel supply and drivers for the buses. Passengers will be able to pay fares using National Common Mobility Cards (NCMC), UPI, or cash payment options.
The project forms part of wider government efforts to accelerate hydrogen adoption across India’s transport sector while supporting broader decarbonisation and air quality goals in major urban centres.
From an industry perspective, the launch demonstrates how hydrogen mobility projects in India are increasingly moving from pilot demonstrations toward operational public transport deployment. While battery-electric mobility continues to dominate urban decarbonisation strategies, hydrogen-powered buses are being positioned as a complementary solution for applications requiring higher utilisation, faster refuelling, and operational flexibility in dense city transport networks.
