11 electric buses to ply in Shimla

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 17

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur flagged off electric buses of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme today.

Eleven electric vans will ply on nine local routes from the Secretariat. The fare will be similar as charged by HRTC taxis plying within the Municipal Corporation limits in the city.

The taxis will operate from the Secretariat to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and Hospital, old bus stand to the Secretariat, Dhalli tunnel to the IGMC, Boileauganj to Central Telegraph Office (CTO), old bus stand to CTO, Tutikandi crossing to the CTO, Navbahar to the IGMC, Summer Hill to the CTO. As many as 50 buses have been provided to the state under the FAME scheme of the Government of India in the ratio 90:10.

The Chief Minister said these cabs would also be introduced in other districts in a phased manner.

Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, Urban Development Minister Sarveen Chaudhary, Agriculture Minister Ram Lal Markanda and Transport Minister Govind Singh were also present.