Diary Times News Service
Shimla, 10 August: In a bid to improve the financial sustainability of the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HRTC), the Himachal Pradesh government is going to reduce the existing 50% discount on bus fares for women to 25%. Additionally, the government plans to implement a minimum fare for school children, who currently travel free in HRTC buses. These changes were discussed and approved in a recent cabinet meeting as part of broader efforts to address the financial challenges faced by the state-run transport corporation.
The HRTC is suffering from significant operational losses, with the cost of running its buses being around Rs 80 per kilometer, while the revenue it generates is very low. To cover these losses, the state government is giving an annual grant of around Rs 700 crore. However, as the state’s economic condition continues to deteriorate, the government is trying to reduce this financial burden by implementing strict measures.
As part of these measures, the Cabinet has also decided to discontinue the free travel facility for police personnel in HRTC buses. This comes after the HRTC board of directors recently decided to double the rates of bus passes used by private school students and concessional card holders. The validity period of these passes and cards has also been reduced from two years to one year, reflecting the corporation’s need to raise revenue.
Despite the challenges, there have been some positive developments for the HRTC. The corporation’s management has made progress in increasing monthly revenues, which has helped it stabilise salary disbursements. Employees, who earlier faced uncertainty about when they would receive their salaries, are now receiving their wages on the first of every month.
The proposed reduction in fare concessions and imposition of minimum fares for school children are likely to have a noticeable impact on daily commuters, especially women and students, who depend on these subsidies. The government’s decision underlines the difficult balance between providing affordable public transport and maintaining the financial health of the HRTC.
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