HRTC suspends Dalhousie-Delhi Volvo bus service

The suspension of the Volvo bus service on the Dalhousie-Nurpur-Delhi route by the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) has left passengers in distress. The service, which had been operating for nearly four years, provided a comfortable travel option for tourists, students, and private-sector employees commuting to Chandigarh, Delhi and NCR. HRTC sources revealed that the service was suspended due to the restriction on inter-state diesel buses that do not meet Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) norms. The Commission for Air Quality Management in Delhi-NCR imposed these restrictions under GRAP-4, a set of strict anti-pollution measures, on December 24. Since the bus on this route was BS-IV compliant, HRTC had no choice but to suspend the service. Amit Chouhan, Regional Manager, HRTC Shimla, confirmed that the decision was taken in compliance with Delhi-NCR regulations.