HP govt to conduct probe into purchase of electric buses
Transport minister says these buses not fit to ply on state roads; 2,101 buses were purchased during tenure of the previous Congress govt
DHARAMSHALA:Himachal Pradesh government will conduct a probe into the purchase of electric buses and also issue a white paper on the same within two months, transport minister Govind Singh Thakur announced in the assembly on the second day of the winter session of the Vidhan Sabha.
The minister said these buses are not suitable to ply in the hilly terrains of the state.
Replying to a question raised by Nurpur legislator Rakesh Pathania, the transport minister said that the Himachal Road Transport Corporation, HP City Transport, Bus Stand Management and Development Authority purchased 2,101 buses in last five years by raising a loan of ₹260 crore. He said that there was no compromise on quality of the buses as their built is according to the Centre Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) and are as per code of Practice for Bus Body Design and approval of AIS 052 standards.
These buses are having type approval from ARAI, Pune and state transport of Himachal Pradesh.
“Buses purchased 2016-17 onwards conform to BS-IV emission norms and are fitted with anti-locking braking system, speed governors and average of these buses was 5km per litre approx in plains and 3.25-3.50 km per litre in hilly areas.”
The minister apprehended irregularities in the purchase of 50 electric buses and said the government would conduct investigations in the procurement of these buses.
“There is huge difference in the cost of electric buses purchased in 2017 during Congress regime and the buses purchased by the present Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government,” he said.
He also alleged that 325 other buses purchased by the HRTC during previous Congress regime could not be plied due to a petition filed by private bus operators.
“Congress government failed to plead the case properly and these buses remained off road for long,” said the transport minister adding that that BJP government after coming to power pleaded the case and high court vacated the stay.
Now, transport minister, said 140 buses have been added to the fleet and rest 185 will start plying soon.
He also alleged that ₹63 crore funds for upgrade of HRTC workshops lapsed during the previous Congress regime.
Meanwhile, leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri demanding probe into the buses purchased in previous regime as well as current regime said that the annual maintenance cost of the electric buses being purchased by the BJP government was more than their actual cost. Shilai legislator Harshvardhan Chauhan alleged that the price during the Congress regime was including the annual maintenance cost (AMC) but the BJP government split.
Later, on the insistence of Nurpur legislator, the transport minister announced inquiry into the purchase of the buses and also issue a white paper.