Shimla panchayat opposes surrender of HRTC bus routes, cites student and employee hardship
Shimla, Aug 2,
The Gram Panchayat of Chanog has strongly objected to the proposed surrender of two Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus routes on the Shimla–Mamligh stretch, ruing it severely affect students, government employees, and daily commuters.
In a meeting with the Managing Director of HRTC held today in Shimla, a delegation led by Pradhan Manoj Kumar urged the corporation to retain the existing government-run bus services. They argued that any move to replace these with private operators would not only increase travel costs but also compromise affordability for rural families who rely on subsidized travel.
As per the representation submitted by the panchayat on July 12, HRTC bus route number 403 departs from Blain at 3:10 AM and reaches Shimla via Chanog by 8:30 AM. Another route, number 398, starts from Shimla at 5:10 AM and serves the same region. These early-morning buses are essential for school children, college and ITI students, and daily-wage employees commuting to the city.
The delegation pointed out that buses are already overcrowded, with students often forced to travel standing from Chanog to Jubberhatti. They cautioned that eliminating these government services would force students to pay higher private fares, which many families in rural Himachal simply cannot afford.
The matter has reached higher offices. Public Works and Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh, in an official note dated July 22, forwarded the Panchayat’s concerns to the Deputy Chief Minister. “In view of public interest, it is requested that the said bus routes may not be surrendered,” Singh wrote, emphasizing the importance of state-run public transport in remote regions.
Residents fear that privatization of these routes would reduce reliability and cut off access to subsidized fare schemes, impacting education and employment. The Panchayat has called for immediate government intervention to preserve these lifeline services.
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