Massive Rush for HRTC Driver Recruitment in Himachal Amid Rising Unemployment

June 24, 2026

A large number of unemployed youths in Himachal Pradesh are reaching the Regional Manager (RM) office to recruit for the post of driver in HRTC. Despite temporary recruitment, there is enthusiasm among the youth about the job. At the same time, Deputy CM and Transport Minister Mukesh Agnihotri has warned driver-conductors to maintain decorum in the language style.

In a conversation with ‘Dainik Bhaskar App’, Arun Kumar, a resident of Kandru in Theog, said that he is aware that he will be removed from his job as soon as the strike of HRTC driver-conductor is over. Knowing this, he is ready to be recruited. He said that unemployment is at its peak in the state. Therefore, the young man is ready to become a driver even for a few days.

I know I will be fired: Montu

Montu, a resident of Kumarsain, said that he has come to interview for temporary driver recruitment and has been driving heavy vehicles for 10-12 years. They know that they will be removed as soon as the driver-conductor strike is over. He said that for the recruitment of drivers, they are currently being asked for Aadhaar card, driving license, Aadhaar card and metric marksheet.

Deputy CM termed the strike as illegal and illegal

On the other hand, Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri warned that the government has implemented the Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA). He appealed to all employees to return to work by calling the driver-conductors’ strike illegal and illegal. On not doing so, he instructed the handover of the keys of the vehicles to HRTC. He said that if the employees do not return to work, then HRTC is going to recruit drivers. A large number of people are arriving for the interview and will be deployed according to the need.

The Deputy CM said that many organizations are coming forward to run buses. Written orders are being issued to such people according to the route, so that the transport system is not affected. He said that from tomorrow, the government will hand over the keys of the vehicles to the newly recruited drivers and start sending them on the route. He said that if the employees go on strike, it will cause a loss of two and a half crore rupees daily to HRTC.

The wheels of HRTC buses will stop from 12 o’clock tonight.

HRTC employees have announced a strike demanding medical bills, dearness allowance and overnight time. According to this announcement, no HRTC bus will run from 12 o’clock tonight. Thousands of people in the state will face problems due to this.

The government has put in place ESMA to stop their strike. But the employees are still in the mood for an all-out fight. HRTC Drivers’ Union president Man Singh Thakur said that either the government should fire them or still release their financial benefits.

Liabilities of over Rs 100 crore: Man Singh

Man, Singh said that the employees are not asking for anything extra. He is only asking for his rights. He said that the government has a liability of more than 100 crores. They are not being given night overtime, medical bills and DA for a long time. This upsets the employee.

What will be the impact?

Most of the HRTC buses in Himachal ply in rural areas. Most of these routes include those where only HRTC buses go. In such a situation, the general public will have to face problems due to the absence of government buses. Similarly, 90 per cent of the buses go to other states outside the state. However, the strike will also affect bus services to various cities of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

The government has given strict instructions

Under the orders of ESMA, no employee can join, promote or cooperate in the strike. There is a provision for legal action against the violators. The government has also directed the HRTC management as well as the district administration and police officials to cooperate in the compliance of the orders.