SHIMLA: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur flagged off a fleet of 16 buses that comply with BS-VI pollution norm from Hamirpur today. 

These buses are  part of 195 new buses the State Government has purchased for Himachal Road Transport Corporation to ensure comfortable and safe journey to the commuters.

Chief Minister said that as per his budget announcement last year 205 new buses were to be purchased by the HRTC. He said that a fleet of 87 buses had already arrived and remaining buses would reach the State very soon, replacing  the old ones. 

Thakur said  since the road transportation was the main mode of transportation in hilly States like Himachal Pradesh, the State Government was committed to provide safe and comfortable mode of transportation to the people of the State.

He said that during the current year budget, he has announced to add a fleet of 360 new buses. All  these buses would be procured at the earliest and provided to the Corporation.

Chief Minister said that all these buses would be as per BS-VI specification and equipped with several latest facilities like CCTV Camera, rear view camera, VLTD tracking system. 

Jai Ram Thakur also honoured drivers of newly inducted buses on the occasion.

Transport Minister Bikram Singh, Education Minister Govind Singh Thakur, Deputy Chief Whip Kamlesh Kumari, MLAs Narender Thakur, Rakesh Jamwal and Arun Kumar Mehra, Vice Chairman, HRTC Vijay Agnihotri, Managing Director HRTC Sandeep Kumar, Executive Director, Bhupinder Atri were present on the occasion among others.