Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh inspected the new modern buses of Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) at Tapovan in Dharamshala today. These buses have been manufactured by Tata Motors Marcopolo Ltd., a World Class Motor Company. Expressing satisfaction, he said that a fleet of as many as 515 such buses would provide more comfortable journey to the people.Shri Virbhadra Singh said that since roads were the only mode of communication in this hilly State our government was committed to provide better and comfortable bus facilities the commuters. He said that previous Government had purchased only 100 buses during its five year term and no efforts were made to improve the condition of HRTC fleet. He said that 800 new buses would be purchased for the State under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM).
On the occasion, Transport Minister Shri G.S. Bali said that though new buses were of ordinary class but they had better seats like that of deluxe buses and more inner space for the passengers. He said that back seats of these buses has been elevated so as to give clear front looks. He said out of total 515 buses, 300 buses would be 47 seated, 200 having capacity of 37 seats while 15 mini buses with 30 seats capacity.Smt. Vidya Stokes, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Shri Kaul Singh Thakur Health and Family Welfare Minister, Shri Thakur Singh Bharmouri, Forest Minister, Shri Sudhir Sharma, UD & TCP Minister, Shri Anil Sharma RD & PR Minister, Shri Rajesh Dharmani, Shri I.D. Lakhanpal and Shri Vinay Kumar, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, MLAS, and senior officers of the State Government were present on the occasion.