HP govt approves reduction of bus fare

In a move aimed to provide relief to daily commuters, Himachal Pradesh Cabinet today approved reduction of minimum bus fare from Rs 5 to Rs 3, up to a distance of three-km.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had announced three days back that the minimum fare would be reduced to Rs 3 and the cabinet put its stamp on the proposal.
The Cabinet also approved awarding the contact of remaining work of widening of Theog-Kotkhai-Hatkoti-Rohro road in Shimla. Earlier, the contact was given to a Chinese but it could not complete the work and the contact was cancelled.
The Cabinet decided to regularise admissions in various courses B. Tech (including Bio-Tech, Food-Tech and Bio-Info), M Tech, B-Pharma, M Pharma and MBA and Diploma courses made by various private universities, colleges and polytechnics in accordance with the minimum educational qualification prescribed by the All India Council of Technical Education and concerned regulatory bodies up to August 15,2013 as one time measure "ostensibly in the large interest of students/parents".

The approval has been granted subject to imposition of penalty under relevant provisions of law by respective regulatory bodies.
The Cabinet approved institution of Himachal Pradesh Mahila Vikas Protsahan Yojana-2013.

Under the scheme for bonafide Himachal women, above 18 years, will get cash prize of Rs 21,000 along-with a citation for making outstanding contributions in the field of Health, Education, Sports, Social Service and Art and Culture.
The Cabinet further approved amendment to development plan for Dharamsala planning area by designating the Director, Town and Country Planning as the Competent Authority for permitting change of land use for restricted and other areas of the Development Plan for Dharamsala Planning Area.

The Cabinet accepted the proposal of Utter Pradesh government for payment of Rs 157 crore against power sold to them with late payment surcharge payable at the rate of 6 per cent on the principal amount.