Shimla, July 26: In a bid to handle its deteriorating financial situation, the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) has announced a significant hike in the price of its concessional cards. With immediate effect, the price of HRTC’s Green, Smart and Samman cards will be doubled from Rs 50 to Rs 100. Besides, the validity of these cards has been reduced from two years to one year.
This decision is a major change in the fare structure for the corporation, which is grappling with huge financial losses. The new pricing policy is expected to significantly impact thousands of passengers who depend on these concessional cards for economical travel.
For years, HRTC concession cards have been offering valuable discounts to residents of Himachal Pradesh. The Green Card offers a 25 per cent discount, the Smart Card offers a 10 per cent discount, and the Samman Card offers a 30 per cent discount. The discounts are given based on the distance travelled, with some cards applicable for travel up to 40 kilometres and others for up to 70 kilometres.
The increase in card prices and reduction in validity is part of HRTC’s broader strategy to tackle its financial challenges. The corporation is currently incurring a monthly loss of around Rs 10 crore, which is equivalent to an annual loss of around Rs 120 crore. By increasing the cost of concession cards and reducing their validity, HRTC aims to generate additional revenue and ease its financial stress.
The move has disappointed daily commuters and other regular travellers who are heavily dependent on the concessional fares offered by these cards. For many, the increased cost and reduced validity will affect their travel budget and may lead to a decrease in ridership.
In response to the changes, HRTC officials have emphasized that the adjustments are necessary to ensure the long-term viability of the corporation. Despite the immediate impact on passengers, the corporation hopes that these measures will help stabilize its finances and enable continued service improvements in the future.
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