HP govt increases additional DA of HRTC employees

Transport Minister G S Bali today said that Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) employees would get five percent additional dearness allowance and hiked allowances.
The employees would get an increased additional dearness allowance from August 2017. This would benefit 7,000 employees, he said after presiding over a meetings of the HRTC's board of directors.
Remuneration to drivers trained under the skill development programme has been raised from Rs 15 per hour to Rs 25 per hour. They would also get a night allowance of Rs 70, the minister said.
Drivers of taxis run by the HRTC in Shimla would get a special allowance of Rs 750, he said.

HRTC employees have been given financial benefits to the tune of Rs 609 crore and benefits anointing Rs 84 crore were given during the current financial year.
A sum of Rs 10-crore has been released for payment of medical, overtime, night allowance, leave encashment and gratuity of employees and pension for August, the minister said.

The seven-seater electric buses would ply on 40 routes and order for purchase of 50 buses has been placed after successful trials, Bali said
The HRTC would also run super deluxe bus services and also ply buses on 55 routes at a fixed fare of Re 1 per km, he said.

Bali said that the HRTC has released Rs 50 crore for road safety to the Public Works Department for constructing crash barriers.
The present government has employed 3,323 people, including 1,575 drivers, promoted 1,450 employees and regularised 3,308 contractual employees, the minister said.
The process is on for recruitment of 1,300 Temporary Multipurpose Associates, he said.