The Delhi Government has already announced that after May 31 no Bluelines will ply on Delhi roads if they do not endorse the km-scheme. Said Gupta: ``The deadline of eight days is for the bus operators to apply for conversion to the new scheme. They can take till May 31 to prepare for the conversion. But they anyway cannot ply their vehicles under the old scheme after May 31 of this year.''

On the need for this sudden deadline, Gupta said: ``It is mainly to help the transport department in maintaining a minimum bus service from June 1. The procedure will begin with receiving applications; the total of which we will know how many buses will be with us on June 1.''

Around 400 buses have already come under the km-scheme by surrendering their permits and the rest, around 3,000 in number, are yet to apply.The transport minister claims that there are a number of private operators who have applied to the department for the new scheme. ``If Blueline operators do not apply in eight days, the government will be free to invite other private bus operators to ply their buses for the department,'' he said.