435 HRTC routes to be closed, private buses to fill gaps: Himachal CM

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Tuesday in the State Legislative Assembly being held at Dharamshala that under a rationalization plan, the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) will close 435 loss-making bus routes.

He informed that the corporation incurs a monthly loss of Rs 70 crore and an annual loss of Rs 840 crore, with the total deficit exceeding Rs 2,200 crore. The government provides an annual grant of Rs 780 crore to the corporation.

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The Chief Minister said only those routes where extra buses were running and causing consistent losses have been closed. “The government is planning to hand over these routes to the private sector to regulate bus services more efficiently. A policy for private buses is being developed, along with the issuance of student cards to track the actual number of students traveling on each route. Based on this, the need for HRTC services on each route will be reviewed,” he added.

In response to the main question, Education Minister Rohit Thakur said the Kandhar–Baga bus service will operate only up to Chandigarh for now and will not be restored to Delhi, as the route beyond Chandigarh was running at a loss and adequate private buses are already available. HRTC currently has liabilities exceeding Rs 1,300 crore.

In response to a question from MLA Trilok Jamwal, the Minister said that the Bilaspur–Kandarour–Harlok–Jahu route was closed due to losses, and a private bus service has already started on this route. If the number of students on this route increases, the government may consider reinstating it.

Responding to MLA Vinod Kumar, the Minister said the buses that have completed their mileage or age will be replaced soon, and surplus buses from the Shimla and Parwanoo depots will be transferred to the Sundernagar depot to address shortages.

The Gaddidhar–Karsog bus service will not be restored, he stated.