Palampur: January 24:
In a fresh push towards eco-friendly tourism, HPTDC on Saturday inaugurated five battery-operated electric vehicles for use at its prominent hospitality units across Himachal Pradesh.
The vehicles were flagged off by HPTDC Chairman RS Bali from the Tea Bud property in Palampur, while inaugurations at other locations were held online.
The electric vehicles will operate at HPTDC properties including The Palace, Chail; Tea Bud, Palampur; Devdar, Khajjiar; and New Ros Common, Kasauli. Designed mainly for in-campus movement, the six-seater vehicles have a maximum speed of 25 km per hour and can cover nearly 60 km on a single charge.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman RS Bali said the initiative was aimed at improving guest convenience while promoting clean and green transport. “These electric vehicles will make movement within HPTDC properties easier, especially for senior citizens and elderly guests. At the same time, this is a small but meaningful step towards pollution-free tourism and electric vehicle transition in the state,” he said.
Managing Director HPTDC Dr Rajiv Kumar said the corporation was trying to align its operations with sustainable tourism practices. “HPTDC is gradually adopting environment-friendly solutions. These battery-operated vehicles will enhance guest experience and reduce carbon footprint at our properties,” he noted.
While the initiative has been welcomed as a positive move, sceptics point to the past experience of HPTDC’s transport wing, where several well-intended projects failed to sustain.
Whether these newly inducted electric vehicles become a regular facility for tourists or quietly meet the fate of earlier transport experiments, only time will tell.
