Shimla: Himachal Pradesh deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Saturday launched 10 electric buses in Chamba. He also announced 10 diesel buses for the district.Agnihotri said the state govt was going to induct 1,000 more electric buses in the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) fleet.The deputy CM flagged off the first electric bus from Chamba to Shri Chintpurni in Una district. The bus will operate via Banikhet, Dunera, Sadwan, Nurpur, Dhameta and Talwara.Agnihotri said the buses were specially designed considering Himachal Pradesh’s difficult terrain and would help promote environment-friendly public transport.He said 297 electric buses currently operate across the state and drivers are being trained to operate these. The electric bus companies will also be responsible for maintaining these buses for up to 12 years, the deputy CM added.Calling it the first electric bus service in Chamba, Agnihotri said mid-sized buses would also be introduced in the district. He said the govt would soon recruit drivers and conductors for the Himachal Road Transport Corporation to strengthen public transport.Agnihotri also reviewed jal shakti department projects and inspected development works, including a Rs 27.41-crore auditorium being built by the language, art and culture department and an Rs 8-crore multi-storey building.At Mangla, he inspected a Rs 2-crore jal shakti department rest house, saying it would benefit tourists and residents and boost local tourism.
