SHIMLA-30 July, 2026-Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said that the state government was making all out efforts to modernize public transport, promote sustainable mobility and strengthen HRTC financially.

He was speaking on the occasion of flagging-off the 297 electric buses inducted in to the fleet of Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) at Kyarighat in Solan district today along-with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that HRTC will procure 1,000 electric buses in the coming years and with this addition, the total number of electric buses in the Corporation’s fleet had increased to 507.

Shri Agnihotri said the launching of the HimBus Plus card would prove to be a major convenience for passengers across all categories. The card would integrate the benefits of various existing HRTC travel cards into a single smart card which would be available at an annual subscription fee of Rs. 365. He added that this card could also be used on the Delhi Metro as well as bus services in Punjab and Haryana, making travel more seamless for commuters.

He said that the newly inducted electric buses have been specially designed to suit Himachal Pradesh’s challenging terrain and hilly road conditions. In future, diesel buses will be procured only in the 47-seater category, while the State will progressively expand its electric bus fleet. He further informed that Olectra Greentech Limited will be responsible for the maintenance of these buses for the next 12 years.

Highlighting the state government’s commitment to the welfare of HRTC employees and pensioners, Shri Agnihotri said efforts are being made to ensure payment of salaries by the first day of every month and pensions by the 10th of each month, with the system being streamlined accordingly. He noted that 9,099 employees have benefited from the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), securing their financial future.

He stated that over the past three years, 686 new recruitments have been made in HRTC, while 2,198 contractual employees have been regularized. The government has also released nearly Rs. 70 crore towards medical reimbursement, overtime allowance, night duty allowance, dearness allowance, and other pending financial benefits for employees and pensioners. Medical reimbursement claims up to June, 2026 have been cleared, and the pending 12 months’ overtime allowance and night duty allowance will be released within the next two to three days.

The Deputy Chief Minister further informed that during the last three years, around Rs. 172 crore has been disbursed to retired employees towards Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity (DCRG) and leave encashment. In addition, 1,155 new Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) have been issued. Pension arrears amounting to nearly Rs. 23 crore have been released to pensioners above the age of 75 years, while additional pension benefits are also being provided to pensioners in the 65, 70 and 75 years age groups.

He appreciated the dedication of HRTC officers and employees, describing them as one family committed to providing reliable transport services even under the most challenging conditions. He assured that the State Government would continue extending every possible support to the Corporation and its workforce.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil said that the induction of 297 electric buses into the HRTC fleet had been made possible through the dedicated efforts of Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri. He added that 40 new electric buses have been allocated to Solan district. He also reiterated that the state government is continuously strengthening healthcare, education, and transport infrastructure.

Additional Chief Secretary Onkar Chand Sharma described the introduction of electric buses as a significant step towards environmental conservation. He said that the electric fleet would reduce HRTC’s operational costs while providing passengers with safer, more comfortable, and modern transport services. He termed the initiative a milestone in the Corporation’s journey towards sustainable public transportation.

HRTC Vice Chairman Ajay Verma, District Congress Committee President Subhash Barmani, HPSIDC Vice Chairman Anurag Sharma, Kailash Federation Chairman Baldev Thakur, Managing Director, HRTC, Dr. Nipun Jindal, Managing Director of Olectra Greentech Limited, Mahesh Babu, Director Transport Neeraj Sharma, HRTC Board Members Chhatra Singh, Nishant Thakur, Pradeep Surya, and Ajay Verma and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.