Prototype for new electric buses to be finalised soon: Mukesh Agnihotri
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri today chaired the 164th meeting of the Board of Directors of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) and the 73rd meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Urban Transport and Bus Stand Management and Development Authority (HPUTBSMDA). The meetings discussed several important issues relating to the modernization of the HRTC, procurement of new buses, expansion of electric bus services, bus routes and development of new bus stands.
The Deputy Chief Minister directed officials to expedite the procurement process for 250 new diesel buses for HRTC. He directed that a meeting of the Vehicle Purchase Committee be convened within 15 days so that the procurement process could be taken forward without delay.
The Board also decided to take 366 HRTC buses off the road, including 12-metre buses operating under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Sh. Agnihotri said that old buses would be phased out in a phased manner and replaced with new electric buses to strengthen and modernize the Corporation’s fleet.
The Deputy Chief Minister directed the technical committee to finalize the prototype for 1,000 new electric buses to be inducted into the HRTC fleet at the earliest. He said the proposed buses should have a battery range of more than 350 kilometres, enabling them to operate efficiently on longer routes across the state.
He said the state government was committed to strengthen public transport and promoting cleaner and more sustainable mobility through the expansion of electric bus services.
Sh. Agnihotri said that no HRTC bus route would be discontinued without the approval of the Managing Director. Regional Managers would not be authorized to close any route at their own level.
The meeting approved the establishment of a new electric bus depot in Kangra. E-depots have already been approved at Nadaun, Haroli, Theog and Nahan, while the Haroli E-Depot has already commenced operations. The new e-depots will help expand the operation of electric buses and strengthen charging infrastructure across the State.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that buses currently operating under the JNNURM would be brought under HRTC, enabling the Corporation to operate these buses on routes outside Himachal Pradesh as well.
It was also decided to develop a City Centre at the site of the old bus stand in Una.
Deputy Chief Minister directed the concerned officers to complete the drawings and other necessary preparations at the earliest.
He further said that the new bus stand under construction at Mandi Bharari in Bilaspur district is expected to be completed by 15 February. He directed the officials to ensure that the construction work progresses as scheduled and the project is completed within the stipulated timeframe.
HRTC Vice Chairman Ajay Verma, members of the Board of Directors, Additional Chief Secretary Onkar Chand Sharma, HRTC Managing Director Shivam Pratap Singh and other senior officers of the Corporation and concerned departments were present in the meeting.