Himachal Transport Minister GS Bali on Friday said that 200 new buses would be added in the fleet of Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) this year.
Transport Minister while presiding over the meeting of HRTC conductors and drivers union here said that more than 1,000 buses had been added in the HRTC fleet which would help in providing comfortable journey to the passengers besides frequent transport facilities to them.
He said that the Corporation would explore the possibilities to open the food outlets at the major bus stands.
The Minister said that to check the quality of food in dhabas, a task force would be constituted for random checking. Bali directed HRTC conductors and drivers union to display the name of dhabas with rate of food articles inside the buses to make the passengers aware about the rates finalised by the HRTC so that commuters were not overcharged.
He said that HRTC would also explore the possibilities to outsourcing the work of washing of buses to the private parties so that neat and clean buses be provided to the commuters.
On the demand of providing insurance cover to the drivers and conductors, Bali said that the matter in this regard had been taken up with the insurance companies.
He said that drivers and conductors would be imparted training to operate computers and electronic bus ticketing machines in a phased manner.
The Minister also asked the officials of HRTC to discharge their responsibilities with more dedication and devotion so that people could get better and comfortable services.
Earlier, president HRTC conductors and drivers union, Devraj Thakur and general secretary Sukh Ram raised various demands of the union including filling up vacant posts of drivers and conductors.