Himachal news: CPM to launch statewide protest against bus fare hike

The Himachal Pradesh State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has announced that it will intensify its ongoing protest against the recent hike in bus fares, transforming it into a full-fledged statewide movement. The party declared that the agitation would continue until the state government rolls back what it described as an “unjust and burdensome” decision.

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In a statement issued on Sunday, CPM leader Sanjay Chauhan criticised the state government for imposing what he called a “financial blow” on the people, already suffering under anti-people and neo-liberal policies. He said the move to double the minimum fare from Rs 5 to Rs 10, followed by an across-the-board 15 per cent hike in regular fares, has pushed Himachal’s bus tariffs higher than those in neighbouring states. This, he added, was particularly harsh for Himachalis who largely depend on bus transportation due to the state’s limited railway connectivity.

Chauhan also highlighted the recent steep increase in school bus pass rates, which, according to him, had almost tripled within just seven months. Although a partial rollback was announced following resistance from CPM and parents’ associations, he pointed out that even the revised fares remain nearly double the previous rates.

Responding to Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Mukesh Agnihotri’s justification that the fare hike was necessary to offset the financial losses of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC), Chauhan argued that the real problem lies in the government’s own policies. He alleged that the state is deliberately weakening HRTC by handing over its most profitable routes to private operators. While HRTC currently operates around 2,500 routes, over 8,300 lucrative routes have been allocated to private bus services, he claimed.

The CPM leader also pointed to the government’s reluctance to invest in the public transport system, noting that no new buses are being purchased and no recruitment is being carried out for drivers and conductors. As a result, even the routes HRTC does cover suffer from irregular and inadequate service, he said.

Chauhan reiterated that CPM will continue its protests across the state until the government withdraws the fare hikes, restores school pass rates to previous levels and revokes the increased charges for carrying personal items on buses. The movement, he said, is a fight for accessible, affordable and accountable public transport in Himachal Pradesh.