Himachal News/HRTC to add new fleet of 1300 buses

Dharamsala, December 8, 2013: In hilly State of Himachal Pradesh where geographical constraints often impede the pace of development, the State Road Transport Corporation is making every possible effort to connect even the remotest parts of the state. At present, it has around 2,100 buses plying on almost 2,850 routes both inside and out of the State. The Corporation is acquiring 500 new buses to strengthen its fleet so that better services could be provided to the people thereby fulfilling its social obligations and responsibility. As many as 800 more buses have also been sanctioned for the State under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Corporation has introduced a special bus service in Shimla city wherein passengers have to pay just rupees five as fare from the place of boarding till its destination, another bus service was being plied by HRTC from Shimla to Solan with only Rs.40 as one way fare and has started numerous schemes for its daily commuters. With the arrival of new fleet of buses, Corporation would increase the number of buses and their frequency under these schemes with the passage of time.

A decision has been taken recently by the government to reserve 40 percent seats for women, senior citizens, patients sufferings from Cancer and physically disabled persons in ordinary buses of HRTC and private buses plying within the radius of 50 kilometres. HRTC is also providing free travelling facility to Gallantry Award winners in ordinary and deluxe buses of corporation with in the state. Free travelling facility is also being provided to HRTC staff and retirees in ordinary buses of the corporation up to the operational jurisdiction of corporation.

Students of all government schools in the state are being provided free travelling facility in ordinary buses of corporation for going and coming back from school and for better services, more buses would be made available for the school going children.

Corporation has also introduced a new 'Green Card' scheme where passengers are entitled to avail 30 percent discount in fare for more than 40 kilometres and less than 60 kilometres. The validity of Yellow and Smart Cards have been extended from one to five years so that people do not have to come every year for their renewal. Corporation is providing five percent discount in fares to those passengers who book their tickets online at least five days before journey period. Online reservation is available for all types of buses of corporation. HRTC is the second transport undertaking in the country that started online booking facility for passengers. Corporation has also reduced the service tax on e-ticketing from 2.5 to 1.5 percent. It has also been decided to provide five percent commission to those tour and travel operators who would give bulk bookings to deluxe fleet of the corporation.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has directed HRTC to provide qualitative, timely and better services throughout the state. /dharamsala news update, dharamsala information, dharamsala news, himachal news online, himachal news kangra, himachal news in english, himachal news today, himachal news, india news