HRTC route cuts draw fire in House

The discontinuation of Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses on several routes triggered a sharp exchange in the Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday, with legislators arguing that a welfare state must ensure connectivity even on loss-making routes.

The issue was raised during Question Hour by Dalhousie MLA DD Thakur, while Churah MLA Hans Raj contended that several routes in Chamba district had been curtailed not due to low viability but because of a shortage of buses.

Responding to the concerns, Transport Minister Mukesh Agnihotri maintained that HRTC would not operate on uneconomical routes, citing mounting financial losses. Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, however, stressed that while profitability is important, the government has a responsibility to provide transport services in remote areas. He also sought an assurance that constituencies represented by opposition MLAs would not face discrimination in the allocation of bus services.

Agnihotri rejected the allegation, asserting that the government was functioning without bias. He added that several routes in the Seraj region had been suspended due to monsoon-related road damage and would be restored once connectivity improves.

Providing data, the minister said 203 HRTC buses are currently operating in Chamba district, though some routes remain unserved due to low passenger demand. He noted that buses completing nine lakh kilometres are automatically phased out of the fleet, adding that despite constraints, HRTC continues to ferry around five lakh passengers daily across the state.

The House also discussed concerns raised by Hans Raj regarding apple growers in Churah, who, he said, were not benefiting adequately from government schemes such as high-density plantations. He urged the government to introduce targeted measures to strengthen the rural economy in the region.

Horticulture Minister Jagat Negi responded that apple cultivation is being promoted statewide, including in Kangra, Chamba and Shimla. He said Chamba alone has 12,728 hectares under apple cultivation, producing over 4,000 metric tonnes annually. The department, he added, has more than 24 varieties of apple rootstock and has distributed over three lakh saplings of apple and other stone fruits. However, he acknowledged a shortage of staff in the horticulture department, which needs to be addressed.