Shimla: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has instructed officials of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) to investigate the possibility of introducing buses powered by green hydrogen in the near future, reports Hindustan Times.
During a high-level meeting of the corporation, the Chief Minister stated that the Himachal Pradesh government aims to become a “green energy state” by March 2026. In line with this ambitious target, he directed HRTC to study the practicality of bringing in green hydrogen buses.
The Chief Minister also urged HRTC to improve transport services for the people of the state, considering the challenging mountainous terrain. He announced that 297 new electric buses (Type-I) will be put into service by March 2026, and the process of acquiring an additional 30 electric buses (Type-II) is currently underway.
In an effort to modernize operations and enhance efficiency, the Chief Minister instructed HRTC to develop a single online system for applying for discounted bus passes. He also called for the implementation of a real-time system to track buses and encouraged the adoption of digital technology for better management. Additionally, he directed the HRTC headquarters to switch to an e-office system.
Chief Minister Sukhu also mentioned that a new HRTC workshop would be built in Theog, located in Shimla district, emphasizing that the government is fully supporting the organization to ensure its long-term success.
