Electric Buses for Rohtang and McLeodganj

Dharamshala, July 3, 2017: “Himachal Road Transport Corporation HRTC will start providing packed lunch and dinner in its Volvo buses, to curve the complaints of poor food and arrangements of corporation approved dhabas on highways,” said Transport Minister G S Bali while talking to this correspondent in Dharamshala on Monday. He said, “The service shall be started first in HRTC buses starting from ISBT Delhi to Manali Shimla and Dharamshala and later be extended to all Volvo buses. The tender of this effect is at the final stage, and food will be available within a month to the passengers of HRTC.”He added that the charges of the food shall be included in the journey ticket. He said the low cost food for the passengers have already been started in major Bus Stands of the state under the name of Garib ki thali. “I, myself has tasted the food in Hamirpur and Nagrota bus stand canteens, and it is the nice thali,” he added.

The Minister said that when he took the charge of Transport Ministry of Himachal in 2012, there was a total fleet of around 1600 buses with the corporation, which has been doubled to make it more than 3200 now. Bali said, “The order for 325 more buses with lower seating capacity has already been placed. Out of these, 250 buses shall only be used for transportation in backward and difficult areas of the state, where plying of big buses is not safe.”

Minister said, “10 new Volvo buses are being included in the fleet of HRTC. These buses will ply on additional routes in Dharamshala and Manali sector.”

Bali said, “the first electric bus has been arrived and will soon be put for public on Manali-Rohtag Pass route. 50 more such buses are also been ordered and 10 of these buses shall be made available for Dharamshala- McLeodganj route to reduce traffic and save environment.”

Minister said around 12 new bus stands are ready or already started functioning ,which include one at Chamba and Nagrota Bagwan. Few others will be constructed on BOT mode with all modern amenities at Dharamshala, Una, Kullu, and Manali . The bus stand at Manali will be constructed at the cost of 75 crore, where as the cost for Kullu shall be 30 crore, Dharamshala 15 crore, and Una 35 crore rupees .

Beside this there new workshops are coming up at Una, Rhroo and Theog.

He said that Chintpurni shrine bus stand is ready with 400 vehicles parking facility and will be dedicated to public in a week or so.