Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) will purchase 500 new buses to strengthen its fleet.
"HRTC will take a loan from HUDCO to meet its demand as the corporation is already in heavy loses and can't purchase vehicles on its own. Repayment of the loan has been planned in phased manner," state transport minister G S Bali said today.
"Though HRTC is trying to improve its performance since the last six months, it is far behind in meeting the Rs 500 crore loss which accumulated during the BJP government.
"Around 200 zero-value buses are to be replaced every year in HRTC, but due to wrong policies of the previous government the number of such buses have swollen to 700," Bali said.
The minister said Rs 10 crore has been sanctioned for new bus stands at Chamunda Devi, Rohroo, Nagrota, Nirmand and Sunniand Nerwan.
A new AC bus service will start between Dharamsala and Chandigarh soon, Bali said adding, he would meet people and get acquainted with their grievances at Dharamsala secretariat every month.
