Himachal Road Transport Corporation would increase its bus fleet and introduce services on 50 routes in Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur and Bilaspur districts to break the monopoly of private bus operators, Transport minister G S Bali said today.
Talking to reporters here, a day after strike by private bus operators, Bali said that the impact was felt more in these districts due to their monopoly.
"The HRTC has identified 50 routes, including 20 routes in Bilaspur and ten each in Shimla, Sirmaur and Solan districts, which were worst affected by the strike and additional state transport buses would ply on there routes to minimise the harassment and inconvenience caused to the commuters in case of any such strike in future," the minister said.
Claiming that only 2,000 out of 3,200 private buses observed strike yesterday, he said the strike had no impact at all in Chamba, Kangra and Kullu districts.
"I am not opposed to the demand of private bus operators for hike in bus fares but going for a strike and causing inconvenience to commuters is not the way to sort out the issue which can be solved only through negotiation," he added.
