The free HRTC bus facility being provided to students of government schools in Himachal Pradesh may be stopped. In the meeting of the Board of Directors of HRTC held yesterday, the option of making passes for students at minimum bus fare was discussed, in which there is a proposal to charge minimum bus fare. Apart from this, there is a plan to stop the 50 percent discount on bus fare for women in urban body areas. A proposal has been prepared to continue this discount in rural areas. However, the final decision on all these proposals has to be taken by the Cabinet.
In the meeting of the Board of Directors, there was a discussion on making 15 single fare bus passes per month for students of government schools to go from home to school and return from school to home. In this, fare for 15 days in a month will have to be paid. This fare will also be charged for one way only. It was argued in the meeting that the benefit of half fare should be given to those women of rural areas who are unemployed or whose income is low. In urban areas, working women are also taking advantage of the facility of half fare.
The Board of Directors has also passed a proposal to increase the minimum fare. There has been a discussion on implementing a minimum fare of Rs 5 for two kilometers and Rs 10 for four kilometers. At present, a minimum fare of Rs 5 is being charged for 3 kilometers.
Akhil Gupta, general secretary of Himachal Pradesh Private Bus Drivers-Conductors Association, says that it is necessary to increase the minimum bus fare. It is less than other states. Rs 15 is being charged in Punjab. The main means of transportation in Himachal is bus service, so there is no need to increase the general fare.