While inaugurating various services of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) at the Old Bus Stand, Agnihotri, who holds the transport portfolio, said that this facility has been started by the HRTC in collaboration with the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department. The fare for this shuttle bus service has been fixed Rs 200 per passenger.
Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said that these buses will be replaced by old diesel buses in a phased manner.
The capital city of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla now has 20 more electronic buses. With this, the total number of e-buses operational in the city has gone up to 70.
The police recruitment test that was earlier, held in 27 March that is being held again after paper leak in which the investigation by Himachal Pradesh police is still in process.
The chief minister said that roads are lifelines of the economy for the hilly states like Himachal Pradesh. He said that this makes the role of drivers of the HRTC buses further more important.
The seven new routes approved include Mandi-Paidi via Taliyar up to Saihal, Sarkaghat to Tihra via Garli up to Sakohta, Shimla-Anu via Juni, new bus services from Sundernagar for Bari school children and common citizen, Mandi to Sarkaghat bus service via Durgapur, Sujanpur to Galoti bus service via Lahru Gloti instead of Bhedi-Naag Mandir Lahru, and Hoshiyarpur-Chambapattan-Jawalaji bus service has been extended to Til.
Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj faced protest from locals, who blamed the government's callousness towards the safety of the passengers.
BK Agarwal directed that since road safety campaign is focussing on overloading, the HRTC should be prepared to provide alternate transportation to stranded people and it must be ensured that general public does not face any inconvenience.
Taking every possible step to ensure good road facility across the state, he said that out of 90 black spots identified by police department, 71 have been rectified by Public Works Department (PWD) and remaining will be rectified in due course.
Thakur said after the gruesome Pulwama attack on CRPF personnel, the government has decided to provide free travel facility to the families of the martyrs of CRPF and other paramilitary forces.
