HRTC to procure 327 electric buses, replace Volvo fleet
The state government is all set to refurbish the Himachal Road Transport Corporation’s (HRTC) fleet of around 3,200 buses. The plan to purchase 327 electric buses, replace the entire fleet of 24 Volvo buses and buy 250 diesel buses is at various stages of execution. “We are at the tendering stage to purchase 327 electric buses. We have already received money from the state government,” said Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, who also holds the transport portfolio.
He said that another 250 diesel buses would be purchased for far-flung and tribal areas. “As the time required to manufacture an electric bus is around one year to one-and-a-half years, we have decided to add 250 diesel buses to our fleet. We will also buy around 100 tempo travellers,” he added.
Besides, Agnihotri said that the government was replacing the HRTC’s entire fleet of 24 Volvo buses. “These buses ply on long routes and we are getting complaints that these develop snags quite frequently. So, we have decided to replace the entire fleet of Volvo buses and tenders have been floated,” he added.
He said that the HRTC would have to replace about 1,500 to 2,000 buses in its fleet. “We will have to replace the buses that have either completed eight years on the road, or have covered nine lakh kilometres. We are working on the proposal,” he added.
Agnihotri said that Rs 110 crore would be spent on setting up electric vehicle charging stations and workshops. “Our workshops are in extremely bad shape. There is not even the facility of toilets for workers. The HRTC is addressing the concerns of its employees. We have never defaulted on the payment of salaries and pension to the employees,” he added.
