Shimla rural gets 30 electric buses, Vikramaditya Singh hits back at Kangana

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Shimla , August 13

Himachal Pradesh Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh on Thursday flagged off the first batch of 18 electric buses from the Old Bus Stand for Shimla Rural, out of 30 buses sanctioned for the constituency. The buses will operate on various routes and are expected to improve public transport connectivity for local residents.

Vikramaditya Singh said the shortage of buses in Shimla Rural had been a long-standing issue and that he had raised the matter with Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Mukesh Agnihotri on priority. He thanked Agnihotri for sanctioning 30 electric buses for the constituency.

Vikramaditya Singh said development projects worth around Rs 650 crore were currently underway in Shimla Rural, including road and building works. He said the area, located close to Shimla, has a large number of government employees, farmers, horticulturists and other residents who travel to the state capital every day.

Vikramaditya Singh said the first batch of 18 electric buses would benefit panchayats in the Tutu area, while around 14 more buses would be introduced in the Sunni area in the next phase. However, as the electric buses have a range of around 150 km, longer routes would continue to be served by diesel buses, he said.

Reacting to BJP MP Kangana Ranaut’s allegations of corruption against the Himachal Pradesh government over the cess imposed on petrol and diesel, Vikramaditya Singh launched a sharp attack on her. He said, “Mohatarma ko koi bhi seriously nahi leta,” and advised her to first obtain complete information before making statements in the media.

Vikramaditya Singh said petrol and diesel prices were not being increased by the Himachal government, claiming that prices had been rising continuously at the central level and affecting consumers across the country. He said the state had imposed a cess of around 50-60 paise for the welfare of poor people and orphaned families.

Questioning the focus on the state government’s cess, Vikramaditya Singh asked why there was no discussion about petrol prices reaching around Rs 105 per liter and diesel around Rs 95 per liter. He also raised the issue of ethanol blending, claiming that it was affecting vehicle mileage.

Vikramaditya Singh further said Himachal Pradesh was yet to receive around Rs 1,500 crore from the Center. He asked Kangana Ranaut to take up the matter with the central government and help secure the pending funds for the state.

Regarding the monsoon situation, Vikramaditya Singh said the government had deployed machinery across the state to restore roads blocked by heavy rains. Around 200-250 roads had been closed at different times, but a large number were being reopened by evening with the help of JCB and poclain machines.

He said the machinery was being regularly monitored to ensure that farmers and horticulturists did not face difficulties during the rainy season. Vikramaditya Singh added that road tarring under the Annual Maintenance Plan had been affected this year due to an increase in bitumen prices.

Vikramaditya Singh said the government had agreed to an enhancement in rates and tarring work would be accelerated after the monsoon. He said the government was focused on keeping roads open to ensure smooth transportation of agricultural and horticultural produce.

Vikramaditya Singh said around Rs 203 crore had been sanctioned for upgrading the Chhaila-Yashwantnagar-Neripul road, which he described as an important lifeline for horticulturists. Another Rs 36 crore had been sanctioned for completing the remaining work on the Tikkar-Khamadi road in the Rampur area.

Vikramaditya Singh said the government was committed to strengthening roads that serve as lifelines for farmers and horticulturists and improving connectivity for people across Shimla Rural and other parts of the state.