Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit flagged off the new air-conditioned CNG buses which will initially ply on select routes, of which two will be on the bus rapid transport (BRT) corridor in South Delhi. 

The bus fare starts at Rs 10 for the travel distance till 8 km, Rs 15 for 8 km-16 km distance, Rs 20 for 16-24 km and for more than that is Rs 25. 

Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf said, "25 more such buses costing around Rs 65 lakhs will be inducted in the DTC fleet by the month end. A thousand air-conditioned buses will be added by the beginning of 2010." 

By 2010 there will be 5,000 new low-floored buses in the capital, of which 1,000 will be air-conditioned. 

"There is a plan to have bus ratio of 25:75 of air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned regular buses using CNG fuel by Commonwealth Games 2010," Haroon said. 

The minister expressed hope that instead of travelling in their private vehicle which are the main cause for air pollution, people would opt to travel by these new comfordable buses.