Bali says HRTC losses cut, seven bus stands opened

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, September 13

Minister for Transport, Food and Civil Supplies GS Bali today listed his achievements as a minister in the present Congress government. While addressing a press conference here today, GS Bali said that he was listing his achievements as this might be his last press conference before the election code of conduct in announced.

In the last five years the losses of the HPRTC have gone down from Rs 450 crores to Rs 351 crores.

Bali said in 2013 there were 1,633 buses with the HRTC. In the last five years 2,000 new buses have added to the fleet. The old and condemned buses have been removed from service and now the total strength of bus fleet of the HRTC is 3,200.

He further said that in the last five years seven new bus stands had been brought up and three at Una, Chintpurni and Dharamsala are being built on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. The number of luxury buses being operated by the HRTC has gone up to 150.

The HRTC would start a bus in each Assembly constituency as per the recommendations of elected representatives and it would be called Mudrika bus service.

The minister further said that in Food and Civil Supplies Department, Himachal Pradesh had become the second state in the country to implement the Food Security Act.

Smart cards have been issued to all the PDS card holders in the state to check pilferage of goods being sold under the system.

‘CM free to oust me’

When asked to react to the statement of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in which he had said that Bali was free go anywhere, he said that he was a member of the Cabinet headed by the Chief Minister. “The Chief Minister was free to drop me if wanted to do so” Bali said. HE also clarified that Virbhadra had said so when he was asked about the rumours regarding Bali joining the BJP. About the recent statements of the Chief Minister against HPCC president Sukhwinder Sukhu, Bali said that only the party high command can react to these statements.

Opens health projects

Bali inaugurated health facilities online from the district information centre here in the Dharamsala Secretariat. During the inauguration, GS Bali was accompanied by former MLA and senior BJP leader from Nurpur, Rakesh Pathania.

Bali thanked the Union Minister for sanctioning Rs 85 crore worth projects for Kangra district and Tanda medical college that fell in his Assembly constituency.