State will be first to have electric buses: Bali

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 9

Himachal Pradesh will be the first state in the country to have electric buses.

This was stated by Minister for Transport, Technical Education, Food, Civil Supplies GS Bali today.

He said the Union Government had sanctioned Rs 35 crore for the purchase of 25 lithium ion-powered or electric (retrofitted) buses.

Bali said the Centre was funding the project in the 75:25 ratio, which meant that the Centre would give 75 per cent while the state government would contribute 25 per cent.

The minister said: “Since Himachal has been recognised by the Union government as a special category state, I will request Union Minister for Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari to revise the ratio to 90:10.”

“For a special category state, the Centre gives 90 per cent funds,” he said.

Bali said zero emission mode of transport would help reduce pollution in the hill state, which had a fragile ecology.

The tenders to purchase electric buses and setting up charging stations would be floated soon, Bali said. The minister said the Himachal Road Transport Corporation would phase out over 647 old buses this year and 300 new buses would be added to its fleet, half of which would be mini-buses for remote hilly areas.

“To ensure women’s safety, CCTV cameras and LED lights will be installed in all HRTC bus terminals. ATM machines will also be set up at 18 bus stands by next month,” he said.

The HPRTC will also start a 24x7 call centre and a Whatsapp group for government and private transport, where any passenger can submit his/her complaints or suggestions.

The minister said: “The HPRTC also intends to start AC and deluxe buses connecting district headquarters with the capital soon.”

The Transport Department has released Rs 20 crore for HRTC pensioners.

Replying to a query regarding the panchayat poll results in 10 districts, Bali attributed the Congress victory to the public welfare schemes being run by the state government.

Bali appealed to the people of Kangra to vote for the Congress in the panchayat elections to be held on Sunday and Tuesday.