Live tracking
DTC bus live tracking: how to track any Delhi bus live
Updated · 6 min read · Figures from Delhi’s Open Transit Data, imported 18 July 2026
Almost every Delhi bus broadcasts its position, and the Delhi government publishes those positions as open data every few seconds. Apps such as BusPe put them on a map. A bus can be missing from the map when its GPS unit is off or its report arrives without a route attached.
Where the data comes from
Every DTC and cluster bus carries a GPS unit, a legacy of the cluster scheme’s monitoring rules. The Government of NCT of Delhi publishes their positions on its Open Transit Data (OTD) portal in GTFS-Realtime, the open format used by transit agencies worldwide. The feed refreshes roughly every 10 seconds.
What is in the feed
- The static schedule (GTFS): the shape of the network. In the current data that is 754 route numbers and 5,217 stops, with the order of stops on each route and the fares.
- The realtime feed (GTFS-Realtime): where buses are right now, with vehicle id, position, heading and speed.
An app has to join the two. The realtime feed identifies a bus’s route by an internal id, and that id must be matched to the route number you know. When a bus shows up with no route label, the position arrived but the id did not match.
Why buses disappear from the map
- Patchy mobile coverage. Underpasses, dense markets and some flyovers create gaps.
- The unit is off or faulty. Not every bus on the road is reporting at any moment.
- Staleness rules. BusPe drops any position older than two minutes, so a bus disappears instead of freezing on the map. A stale position is worse than none.
Ways to see your bus live
- One Delhi, the Delhi government’s official app: route information, live positions and mobile tickets.
- BusPe (this site and our Android app): live buses on one map, colour-coded DTC green and cluster orange, buses approaching any stop, and a stop alarm in the app. Disclosure: BusPe is our own product.
- General map apps carry Delhi bus schedules and some live data, usually as departure times.
Reading a live map well
- Watch movement, not just the dot. A bus sitting still at a terminal may be on a break.
- Count stops, not minutes. Delhi’s feed does not give reliable arrival times, so BusPe shows how many stops away a bus is.
- Variants show separately. A 543 and a 543A are different routes; track the one that stops where you need it.
Try it on the live map, or open any stop page to see the buses heading there.
Quick answers
Why does a bus not appear on the live map?
Its GPS unit may be off, its report may be delayed by poor coverage, or it may be reporting without a route attached. BusPe also hides positions older than two minutes.
Which is the official Delhi bus app?
One Delhi is the Delhi government’s official app for bus routes, live positions and mobile tickets. BusPe is an independent site and Android app built on the same open data.
Can I see the live location of a DTC bus without an app?
Yes. The BusPe live map and stop pages work in any phone browser, with no app or sign-in needed.
Does BusPe show arrival times in minutes?
No. The feed does not publish dependable arrival times, so BusPe shows how many stops away each bus is instead of guessing minutes.
Fares and schemes are set by DTC and the Government of NCT of Delhi and can change. BusPe is independent and not affiliated with DTC, DIMTS or the Delhi Government. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.