States » NorthPosted at: Oct 15 2026 6:36PM


Five new electric buses flagged off in Nurpur; Rs 350 Crore sanctioned for Phina Singh project

Ashok Raina
Nurpur (Kangra), Oct 15 (UNI) Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri flagged off five new electric buses at the HRTC workshop in Jasur for operation under the Pathankot depot, and announced Rs one crore for the workshop. He also promised to complete the long-pending Phina Singh irrigation project in record time.
The five buses will operate on the Pathankot-Baijnath, Dada Siba, Gagret, Haripur-Dharamshala and Kundihar routes.
Agnihotri said the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) had initiated a comprehensive fleet replacement programme, under which 1,000 new electric buses were being procured.
Another 200 hydrogen-powered and 250 diesel buses would also be added to the fleet.
More buses would be provided to the Nurpur area, he said, adding that the corporation would soon recruit 300 drivers and 300 conductors.
Highlighting the significance of the Phina Singh multipurpose irrigation project, Agnihotri said it was the dream project of late senior leader Sat Mahajan.
Despite an estimated cost of around Rs 650 crore and expenditure of Rs 300 crore, the project had remained pending for nearly 12 years due to a shortage of funds.
The government had now secured approval of Rs 350 crore for the project, and the dam would be completed in record time, he said.
Describing the completion of the project as a true tribute to Sat Mahajan, Agnihotri said the people of Nurpur would benefit the most from it.
He recalled his association with the late leader and his contribution to the development of the region.
The Deputy Chief Minister said development works worth Rs 42.50 crore related to sewerage and Rs 35 crore for drinking water supply were underway in the Nurpur Assembly constituency through the Jal Shakti Department.
HRTC Divisional Manager Pankaj Chadha said the schedules of the five electric buses had been designed to ensure that each bus covered at least 250 km daily.
Charging stations had been established at Jasur and Pathankot.
The first bus was flagged off for the Baijnath temple route.
Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board Bhawani Singh Pathania said the introduction of electric buses would reduce the corporation's operating costs and improve passenger facilities.
Former MLA Ajay Mahajan thanked the Deputy Chief Minister for providing the new buses to Nurpur and accelerating development works in the area.
HRTC Vice-Chairman Ajay Verma, Nurpur Block Congress Committee president Sandesh Dadwal, Nurpur Municipal Council president Neeti Mahajan, Superintendent of Police Ilma Afroz, SDM Arun, HRTC officials, drivers and conductors were among those present.
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Tags: #Five new electric buses flagged off in Nurpur; Rs 350 Crore sanctioned for Phina Singh project
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