The Arvind Kejriwal government’s plan of adding 10,000 buses to the DTC fleet to strengthen the public transport system in the wake of disturbing proportions of air pollution was questioned on Monday by the National Green Tribunal, which wondered if the plan is backed by proper research and assessment.

The NGT Bench headed by Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar wondered where was the space to park these many new buses.

“Strengthening public transport system is a healthy thing but that needs to be corroborated by some kind of study. Where is the space to park these buses? Have you carried out any study or you are just saying like this only without any research,” the Bench asked.

The Bench made the query on Delhi government’s plea seeking directions to the DDA to provide it 500 acres of land for parking 10,000 buses.

The NGT also remarked if there was enough space on the roads for these many more buses. The DTC also came in for criticism over the report of inspection of its buses conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board and also DTC’s lethargic attitude in not submitting a report sought by NGT on surprise inspection of buses.

“You have not carried out inspection and not filed report. We had asked you to conduct mechanical inspection, emission tests and conduct surprise inspections. What have you done on that aspect? There is not a single report filed by you till date. One year is not enough for you to conduct the inspections. Your buses were impounded, yet you have not done anything,” the Bench said.

Meanwhile, the NGT also directed three teams with officials from the transport department, Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the Delhi Police and other agencies concerned to check vehicles entering Delhi from Sonepat-Delhi border, Ghaziabad and Bahadurgarh-Delhi border.

The team will tonight check the age, weight and pollution levels of all vehicles entering Delhi.

On the issue of construction of Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressway, the NGT pulled up Haryana government for moving at “snail’s pace” in awarding the work.

“You had given an undertaking to the Supreme Court that both Expressways would be completed by 2017. Why have you not allotted work till date,” the Bench asked.

Irked at the “lackadaisical” attitude of the Haryana government, the green panel summoned its top officers and those of National Highways Authority of India and Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation to appear on July 22.

“The Tribunal does not have a magic stick that it will rotate and bypasses will be erected automatically. You [the authorities concerned] have to do it,” the Bench said.