SFI Protests Against Bus Fare Hike in Himachal, Burns Effigy of CM
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Shimla, May 19, 2025 – Members of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) Himachal Pradesh State Committee staged a fierce protest at the Summerhill Chowk of Himachal Pradesh University today. Demonstrators expressed their opposition to the state government’s recent decision to hike bus fares by 15%, by blocking the road and burning an effigy of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
Speaking during the protest, SFI state committee member Ankush Rana called the fare hike anti-people and anti-student, adding that it adds further economic burden on students. He emphasized that students who travel daily for education from remote areas will be hit the hardest.
State Joint Secretary Upendra Kumar highlighted that the fare increase comes soon after the government already set a minimum bus fare of ₹10 post the budget session in March. He alleged that the move is linked to fiscal mismanagement and an attempt to compensate for increased salaries and allowances of MLAs and ministers.
SFI also criticized the plan to privatize 1000 government bus routes by handing them over to private operators, terming it a direct attack on HRTC and public welfare. The student body is demanding immediate rollback of the fare hike and free transportation facilities for students across educational institutions.
SFI warned that if the decision is not reversed soon, the organization will escalate its agitation across the state.
