New Delhi, Aug. 6 -- Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday announced the return of the iconic U-Special buses - the green-and-yellow fleet that once defined college life for generations of Delhi University (DU) students. Discontinued in March 2020 during the Covid lockdown, the buses will now return with air-conditioning, LED lights, music systems, Gupta said. The CM, a DU alumna herself, made the announcement while inaugurating a new academic block at Social Centre School in Maurice Nagar. "We used to spend so much time on that bus - it was our own space, one no one else could enter," she said. "Today, I am restarting the Youth Special service as a gift to students." Launched in 1971 by Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), the U-Special-or University Special-was more than just public transport. It ferried students from far-flung parts of the city to DU's north and south campuses, becoming a cultural icon over nearly five decades. It served students from Rohini, Janakpuri, Mayur Vihar and Dwarka long before the Metro, especially the Vishwa Vidyalaya station. "There was this excitement around the buses," said Rudrashish Chakraborty, professor at Kirori Mal College. "Because students from various colleges boarded the same buses, it became a space where you'd share stories, discuss politics, and fall in love." Rajesh Jha, another DU professor, said, "While I stayed in a hostel, a friend would drop me off randomly so I could board the bus. It was a silly waste of time but totally worth it. During student elections, I would campaign on the bus itself-we didn't have budgets for posters." For many, spotting the chalk-scribbled "U-Spl" board was the morning's highlight. The conductor's role was largely symbolic, with most students using concessional passes."Sometimes the whole bus would be empty, with everyone huddled at the gate, singing," said DU joint proctor Avdhesh Kumar. The new buses will retain their student-centric focus, Gupta said. Routes are yet to be confirmed, but they will cater to DU students specifically. Delhi education minister Ashish Sood and DU vice chancellor Yogesh Singh were also present. "You must be problem solvers, not complainers," Singh told students....