Private buses will run on 390 loss-making routes of HRTC. symbolic photo
Anil Thakur, Shimla. Private buses will soon be seen running on the loss making routes of Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC). 3100 applications have been received for 390 bus routes surrendered by the Transport Department. The department has now extended the application date till February 19. Earlier its last date was February 8. Earlier applications were not being received for these. Operators were not ready to take up HRTC's loss making routes.
Decision of 30 percent grant
In such a situation, the state government changed its plan. It was decided to provide 30 percent subsidy for bus purchase under Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Startup Scheme-3. The government argued that this grant would offset the losses. Only after this the number of applications has increased.
The figure may cross 4500
The department claims that this figure of applications will cross 4500. 18, 32 and 42 seater buses will run on these routes. The Transport Department has advertised more than four hundred bus routes in the last two years. Of these, the operator took only about 40 routes. Additional Commissioner Transport Department Naresh Thakur said that the date of application has been extended till February 19.
Where and how many routes will be allocated
101 routes in Kangra district, nine in Baddi-Nalagarh, 20 in Kullu, seven in Solan, 68 in Shimla, 14 in Rampur, 15 in Nahan, 11 in Chamba, 19 in Bilaspur, 18 in Hamirpur, 95 in Mandi and 13 in Una are being given to private operators.
If the bus is not driven after taking grant, the permit will be canceled
According to the SOP issued by the Transport Department, the applicant should be a permanent resident of Himachali. The applicant must be unemployed. Apart from this, the applicant should not be working in any government, semi-government, PSU or state transport undertaking. There should not be any dues with the transport department. Only one member from a family will get the benefit of the scheme. The applications will be examined by the concerned regional transport authorities. If the number of applications exceeds the available routes, the selection will be done through a lottery (draw) of lots. If someone does not run a bus after taking the grant, his permit will be cancelled. Apart from this, the grant amount will also be recovered from him.
Grant issued only after route permit and purchase
Applicants will be given subsidy up to a maximum of 30 percent of the on-road cost of 18 seater buses. The subsidy will be released only after the route permit is issued and the vehicle is purchased. In this scheme, priority will be given to local residents and residents of sub-division. After this it will be given to district residents and then to other eligible applicants. The subsidy will be paid by the Department of Labor Employment and Overseas Employment through the concerned bank. Once the permit route is obtained, it cannot be transferred.
Also read: Himachal Assembly Budget Session: Due to closure of RDG, there is stir in the politics of the state, these 5 issues will be raised amid financial crisis.
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