Bus Shortage Plagues 44 Panchayats in Vikas Khand, Causing Commuter Distress

Sirmour, Oct 28

A severe shortage of buses and a lack of new routes have created problems for commuters in the 44 panchayats under the Vikas Khand. With a population of nearly one lakh, the area relies on only about two dozen HRTC buses, along with a limited number of private buses. As a result, existing buses often operate overloaded, and even pickup vehicles, considered risky for travel, are in use.

The situation is further exacerbated by bus services failing to cover specific routes, which has left commuters at a disadvantage. The Solan-Nahan bus route has remained inactive for three years, leading to dissatisfaction with the HRTC, the government, and the administration. A letter of request has been sent to the Transport Minister, highlighting the ongoing complaints lodged through the Chief Minister’s Helpline.

In addition, the Regional Manager of the Transport Corporation, Solan, Priyaranjan, explained that the Rajgarh-Sangrah bus, which was facing a passenger shortage, has only been running from Rajgarh to Palar for the past week. He further stated that the Rajgarh-Renuka Ji bus has been consistently dispatched on its designated route, but the lack of passengers is affecting its service. The curious aspect is that private buses are frequently overcrowded. In the Sangrah constituency within the Renuka Ji Vidhan Sabha area, two buses from the Solan depot only come as far as 26 kilometers and 12 kilometers, respectively, before stopping.