Minimum fare in HRTC buses reduce to five again: CM

Himachal Pradesh Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur announced today to cut down the minimum fare in state buses from Rs seven to Rs five. The government extended this benifit first time after decline in the price of fuel in the country. Chief minister made the announcement to cut down the minimum fare from Rs seven to Five as he was issued ticket of five ruppees by a conductor in a HRTC service at Dharmshala on Thursday. Hr was presiding a State

e level function Naari Ko Naman at Dharamshala Today.CM also launched 50 percent concession on bus fare scheme to women passengers in HRTC buses to be effective from July 1 in the state. State decided to provide additional funds of Rs. 30 crore for HRTC would be taken up with the Finance Department to bear the burden on bleeding HRTC coffer which currently in debt trap of around Rs 1500 Cr. Chief Minister said  scheme to provide 50 percent concession in the fare of Himachal Road Transport Corporation buses to women passengers was announced by him during Himachal days function.State Government would spend about Rs. 60 crore annually on the scheme since as per an estimate as many as 1.25 lakh women, travel in the HRTC buses daily. This concession on bus fares to women is not a political move, rather it is a small step towards our resolve to strengthen women power, he added.

. He also announced to fill up of 265 posts of motor mechanics, electricians and other categories and also fill up of 25 posts of women drivers for ‘Ride With Pride’ Taxis of HRTC. He said that it was during his tenure as Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister that 50 percent reservation was provided to women in Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies in 2010 with an aim to ensure participation of women in the process of development. He said that over 58 percent seats were won by the women in those elections and today this percentage has gone upto 60.