HRTC pensioners face Diwali gloom, threaten indefinite strike

Shimla, October 29

While households across Himachal Pradesh prepare to celebrate Diwali with lights, sweets and family gatherings, many retired employees of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) are anxiously waiting for their pensions to arrive. After spending decades operating buses across the state’s difficult mountainous terrain, these elderly employees face uncertainty over their monthly income, with the previous month’s pension reportedly delayed and little assurance of timely payment before the festival.

The HRTC Pensioners’ Joint Struggle Committee has now threatened an indefinite agitation outside the corporation’s headquarters from November 3 if the state government and management fail to release their pending financial benefits by October 31. At an emergency meeting held at the Old Bus Stand complex, the committee finalised its protest programme and accused the government and HRTC management of forcing pensioners to take to the streets to secure their dues.

The pensioners’ immediate worry extends beyond the festival. For many retired employees, a delayed pension means difficulty in meeting household expenses, purchasing medicines and managing the rising cost of living. At an age when regular income is essential for financial security, uncertainty over payments has turned a period traditionally associated with celebration into one of apprehension.

Committee representatives, including K.C. Chauhan, Buj Lal Thakur, Dev Raj Thakur, Rajendra Thakur, Devendra Chauhan, Nanak Shandil, Surendra Gautam and Ajmer Thakur, expressed resentment over what they described as prolonged official indifference towards their demands. They said the pensioners were prepared to continue their struggle despite their advanced age if the authorities failed to respond.

The pensioners also questioned the administrative handling of the corporation, pointing out that two managing directors had been transferred while their financial concerns remained unresolved. They have appealed to the state government and the new management to intervene and release their benefits before the October 31 deadline.

The pension crisis comes amid growing concerns over HRTC’s operational condition. A journalist who has covered the corporation for more than a decade told Himachal Scape that its operational situation had deteriorated considerably, with around 20 to 22 buses reportedly going out of order on a single day.

A large number of buses are reportedly parked near the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT), raising questions about fleet maintenance, the timely availability of spare parts and the effective utilisation of public funds spent on purchasing vehicles.

Frequent breakdowns reduce the number of buses available for scheduled services and can disrupt transport in remote areas where HRTC remains an essential public service.

An HRTC driver who has been operating an electric bus for four years alleged that the vehicle supplier was not responding adequately to complaints and that the non-availability of spare parts was causing difficulties. Such delays can keep vehicles off the road even when repairs may otherwise be possible. The extent of the problem and the reasons for the reported breakdowns require examination of the corporation’s maintenance records.

Some time management complaint having shortage of Tyres, shortage of fuel or most of time Shortage of trained staff.

The low rung staff of HRTC are honest towards their duty and they are managing the chaotic state of affairs and rendering services with lot of patience and restrains.

Also Read CITU backs HRTC employee Agitation, Slams ESMA as ;Undemocratic 

The emerging situation presents the state government with two pressing challenges: ensuring timely payment of pensionary benefits and restoring the reliability of HRTC’s bus fleet.

While retired employees await financial relief, passengers depend on the corporation for regular transport across Himachal Pradesh’s difficult terrain.

For the pensioners, however, the immediate deadline is October 31. If their dues remain unpaid, the committee has warned that an indefinite agitation will begin on November 3, turning their long-standing demand for financial security into a fresh confrontation with the state-owned transport corporation.

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