Delhi University’s iconic U-Special buses are set to return, but students question their need in the Metro era and call for better last-mile solutions.
Delhi University’s U-Special buses, once a daily lifeline for students criss-crossing the city, are set to return after years off the roads. Announced by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on August 5 during the inauguration of the new academic block of the Delhi University (DU) Social Centre School at Maurice Nagar, the revival is being presented as a “gift to students” — complete with air-conditioning, music, and upgraded interiors.
Launched in 1971, the U-Special service carried generations of DU students from far-flung neighbourhoods directly to North and South Campus. Before the Metro connected most of Delhi, they were cheap, direct, and often doubled as part of the campus culture as much as canteens or fests.
But with the Metro now covering nearly every DU-bound route, many students say the buses may no longer be the best solution. Kaashvi Khubyani, a second-year Journalism student at Delhi College of Arts and Commerce says:
The Metro already provides me with everything needed as it’s air-conditioned and quick, especially with Delhi’s unpredictable traffic. Unless these buses can match or beat the Metro’s speed and convenience, I’m not really keen to swap my daily commute for them.”
Others believe the focus should be on solving the ‘last-mile’ problem — the often long and tiring walk from Metro stations to classrooms. Urmika Srivastava, a first-year student at Jesus and Mary College, pointed out that:
A mini shuttle from Jesus and Mary College to the nearest bus stop or Metro would make daily travel much easier for students, especially given the embassy area location and long walks to South Campus after exhausting hours of classes.”
While some welcome the nostalgia and identity the buses carry, others see them as a costly throwback in a city where transport priorities have shifted. Student groups have also argued that funds would be better spent on frequent electric shuttles or safer pedestrian routes rather than adding on to the already deteriorating traffic conditions of Delhi roads.
So far, the government has not confirmed the new U-Special routes or when they will start running. Until then, the debate continues — whether DU should look back to its most iconic bus service, or forward to transport that matches the city’s current needs.
Also Read- CM Rekha Gupta Inaugurates New Academic Block of Delhi University’s Social Centre School
Picture Credits- Daily Pioneer
Juhi Bansal
