Himachal corpn to courier goods soon

State-run Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation (HRTC) is all set to diversify its courier service and is starting goods courier service soon.

"The HRTC will now courier medicines and food items. It is considering the inclusion of other goods in our courier list. We are in touch with private companies and suppliers, among others, who will provide us with good business," said Srikant Baldi, managing director of the HRTC.

A couple of years ago, the HRTC started transporting letters.

Officials said this had proved to be successful as many people across the state were availing themselves of the letter courier service and the state roadways earned a profit of Rs 15 lakh

Officials say virtually no money has been invested in this service. The customer simply hands over the letter and nominal fee to the bus crew at one destination and the receiver collects it at the other destination. Encouraged by this, the roadways is now expanding to include goods in its courier service.

The HRTC hopes to generate good business after getting into the goods courier service as it has a wide 24-hour network service across the state, including the remote and highly mountainous places. It also connects major cities in adjoining states as well.

It has over 1,700 buses plying across the hill state and adjoining states including New Delhi. The goods service aims to tap its entire potential with help of its huge network.

In the near absence of railways and airways, road transport is the only source of transport in the state and the HRTC is the biggest state carrier.