Himachal Pradesh is set to turn towards green public transport. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu recently announced an ambitious plan to transform the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC), a state-run one, into a fully electric fleet by March 2025.
This was asserted by HRTC at the celebrations of their golden jubilee, wherein important dignitaries such as Mukesh Agnihotri, Deputy Chief Minister had attended. Sukhu acknowledged the tremendous contribution of HRTC in the growth of the state and furthered this by adding how it has, over the years, grown to be a reliable and comfortable mode of transport over Himachal’s winding roads.
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The Chief Minister congratulated the efforts and commitment of the staff members in HRTC. The chief minister said that without the hard work and dedication of such staff members, the company had not enjoyed fifty years of success. The important announcements made during the function include the salary and pensions of HRTC employees and retired employees getting paid early on October 28. The next is for clearing 55 months of pending overtime payment that amounts to INR 50 crore by March 31, 2025. Within two months, the pending medical bills of nearly INR 9 crore will also be cleared. The government gives the impression that it cares for the employee.
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The Chief Minister said, “Fossil fuel consuming buses of HRTC should be replaced by electric buses. It will help the corporation in improving its financial health and at the same time reduce the level of harm to the environment.” He requested the HRTC to design for the next 50 years while sharing personal memories in respect of the achievements of the corporation.
By the current government, there have been some very significant developments already. Nearly 7,300 workers of HRTC are being benefited from OPS, 1,546 contract employees have been regularized, 608 new jobs have been created with 550 more vacancies going to be filled up in the near future. Also, 421 employees got promotions as the government values the development of the employees.
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The event also witnessed the launch of a coffee table book that celebrates the glorious past of HRTC and was followed by awarding excellence through appreciation to the out-standing staff. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri appreciated the professionalism and commitment of people working in HRTC, who “do their work notwithstanding difficult circumstances that add more credibility to the company as an easy and reliable employer”. Electric bus deployment will modernise the fleet and boost public confidence in the services, for which HRTC is set to invest Rs 327 crore.
