Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri revealed that out of this total, 150 diesel buses, 15 buses for Smart City Dharamshala, 20 buses for Shimla Smart City, and 11 luxury buses have already been purchased. Furthermore, the tender process for 75 electric buses has commenced, and permission has been granted for the purchase of 225 electric buses. Additionally, 100 diesel buses will be procured to cater to remote areas.
In a meeting with the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) Driver and Conductor Employees Organizations, Deputy CM Agnihotri assured the employees that their demands would be sympathetically considered. He emphasized the importance of providing timely salary and pension payments, committing to a permanent arrangement to ensure that salaries and pensions are disbursed before the 7th of every month. Agnihotri also pledged to address salary discrepancies through discussions with the Finance Department.
The state government has taken a significant step towards curbing luxury buses’ influence by implementing an annual charge of Rs 9 lakh or Rs 75,000 per month or Rs 5,000 per day for luxury buses operating in the state. This decision follows the Tamil Nadu High Court’s order and aims to boost the state’s economy. Currently, Himachal Pradesh has 3,142 buses operating on 3,719 bus routes, with 1,199 buses having zero book value. Immediate plans involve removing 369 buses from the fleet, resulting in a total of 2,773 buses remaining in the HRTC fleet.
The addition of 600 buses to the HRTC fleet will enhance the public transportation system in Himachal Pradesh, improving connectivity and accessibility for residents and tourists alike. The government’s commitment to expanding the fleet and addressing the demands of employees reflects its dedication to providing efficient and reliable transportation services in the state.
