HRTC cancels tender for buying 24 Volvo buses
The Board of Directors of the Himachal Pradesh Transport Corporation (HRTC) today cancelled a tender for the purchase of 24 new Volvo buses. The HRTC had floated the tender to replace its entire fleet of luxury buses. “The tender has been cancelled as only one company had made the bid. It will be floated again. It, however, will delay the purchase process by around two months,” said Transport Minister Mukesh Agnihotri after presiding over a meeting of the Board of Directors here.
Agnihotri, while addressing mediapersons here, announced a change in the HRTC’s luggage policy. “On the basis of feedback received from the public, the Board of Directors has decided to exempt freight charges on the transportation of milk and vegetables in HRTC buses,” he added. The details of the decision were yet to be worked out.
The Transport Minister said that the Board of Directors also decided to not allow advertisements promoting tobacco and liquor in HRTC buses. “These advertisements will be removed from the buses where these are being displayed,” he added.
He said that he had issued directions to put up the case of the ISBT, Shimla, in the Cabinet meeting. “The company running this bus stand has expressed desire to return it to the government and is seeking Rs 82 crore in return. Also, the arbitration of McLeodganj and Kangra bus stands has come against the HRTC and it has to deposit Rs 25 crore. This, too, will be taken up in the Cabinet meeting,” he added.
The minister said that the HRTC was set to replace around 1,000 buses from its aging fleet of 3,200 buses. “The corporation is purchasing 327 electric buses and this process is in the final stages. Besides, 250 diesel buses and 100 mini buses and tempo travellers are being bought,” he added.
The corporation has also asked the Rajya Chayan Aayog to hold the exam for the recruitment of 189 JOA (IT) and computer operators.
