1,000 new buses to be added to HRTC fleet: Himachal Dy CM

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri today said that 1,000 new buses will be added to the 3,200 existing fleet of Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) in a phased manner to enhance services and improve connectivity across the state.

Agnihotri, who holds the Transport Department, said the state government was taking concrete steps to modernise and strengthen public transport infrastructure in the state. He informed that 24 new Volvo buses have already been inducted into the HRTC fleet. “Keeping in view the challenging terrain of the state, priority was being given to acquiring smaller and more accessible buses with seating capacities ranging from 37 to 42 seats. These buses would enable the corporation to extend its services more effectively to far-flung and remote areas,” he said.

The procurement process was underway for 327 electric buses (including 297 Type-1 and 30 Type-3), 250 diesel buses and 100 mini-buses. Supply orders for 297 electric buses have already been issued. Plans were afoot to procure 500 more electric buses which would further boost the green mobility initiative in the state.

The large-scale addition of high-quality buses would not only enhance the operational capacity of the HRTC but also bring greater convenience and comfort to passengers, he said. “In a hill state like Himachal Pradesh, roads are considered the lifelines of the people and HRTC serves as a vital link across these lifelines. Every day, lakhs of passengers rely on its services and the corporation was ensuring connectivity even in the most remote and difficult regions,” he stated.

Agnihotri said that HRTC continues to operate on loss-making routes to uphold its commitment to public service. He said the state government was extending all possible support to the corporation and was working towards developing it as an independent, efficient and self-reliant entity.

He said that the government was committed to environmental protection and around Rs 110 crore has been approved for establishing electric charging stations across the state. To ensure last-mile connectivity in difficult terrain, 100 mini-buses were also being procured, he said.