HRTC to buy 700 buses

Shimla: Deep in the red but the Himachal Road Transport Corporation(HRTC) is all set to buy 700 buses to strengthen the transport services in the hill state. A decision in this regard was taken in a key meeting of the Board of Directors here today under the chairmanship of the deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri who holds the transport portfolio.

He claimed that formalities related to the purchase of 297 Type-1 e-buses have been completed. The board has decided to accept the approval of the purchase committee regarding these buses and send the matter to the Cabinet for final approval. All these buses will join the HRTC in four months. Approval has also been given to buy 23 Type-1 e-buses.

Agnihotri said the purchase process of 24 new super luxury buses is in the final stage and a proposal would be sent to the State Cabinet for approval.
In the meeting, approval was also given to invite tenders for the purchase of 250 diesel buses. These buses will be of 37-seater capacity. Apart from this it was decided that the process of re-tendering would be initiated for the purchase of 100 mini buses.

Instructions have been received from the Central Government to remove 15-year-old diesel buses, after compliance of which the fleet size of HRTC buses would decrease. But the decision to purchase new buses will bring the fleet size back to normal.
It was also decided to purchase two quick response vehicles and four cranes.