HRTC to run 20 new Volvo buses: Bali

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 2

Apart from making renewal of medical fitness certificate mandatory for the commercial vehicle operators after every two years, the State Transport and Food and Civil supplies Minister GS Bali today announced that the HRTC would run 20 new Volvo buses on different routes to facilitate passengers and pilgrims in the state.

Addressing a press conference here today Bali said the new Volvo buses would be started on the Shimla-Katra, Rampur-Delhi, Shimla-Manali, Shimla-Delhi and Lakhnow, Hamirpur-Delhi, Dharamshala-Dehradun-Haridwar, Manali-Delhi, Manali-Haridwar and Jawalaji-Delhi, Chintpurni-Delhi, Baijnath-Haridwar and Dharamshala-Srinagar routes.

Bali said the department had got 180 small and 120 bigger buses for operation in rural areas. The HRTC would replace the vehicles after three years in the rural areas, he added.

Talking about running electric buses, Bali said the tender for this would be finalized by July and the buses would be started as directed by the National Green Tribunal. But the state has demanded that the Centre should fund the electric buses in the 90:10 ratio as the state has no funds to run these buses, he asserted.

He said the proposal to renew the medical fitness certificate for the commercial vehicle operators after every two years would be mandatory to reduce accident risks. The drivers would be examined for colour blindness, epilepsy, cataract and blood pressure to ensure safety on the roads, he added.

Talking about technical education, Bali said all the ITIs would get Principals as the posts were being filled by the government. The four ITIs will be opened at Nainidhar, Chanderari, Sohi and Mashobra, he added.

In the Food and Civil Supplies Corporation, there was a proposal to regularize 72 employees who have complete five years in service, Bali said. The tender for the school uniforms and CM ‘vardi yojan’ would be finalized soon, he added.