HP lifts ban on registration of auto-rickshaw in some areas

The Himachal Pradesh government has lifted the ban on registration of auto-rickshaw imposed in certain areas with immediate effect.
Transport ministerG S Bali said here today the decision will help unemployed youths in the state.
"The government has lifted the ban on registration of three-wheeler rickshaw imposed on certain areas with immediate effect so that the unemployed youth could be benefited," he told a press conference.
He, however, said the vehicles must be environment friendly.
He said when he took the office as transport minister in 2013, there were only 1,633 Himachal Pradesh Transport Corporation Buses (HPRTC) in the state, and most of them not in good condition.

The ministry had to spend Rs 450 crore on their repair and Rs 351 crore on clearing the liabilities, he said.

"Now as the present government has almost completed its 5 years tenure the total number of HRTC buses available are 3200. The corporation purchased 2,000 new buses during last five years including 150 (Volvo/Scania} buses," he said.
Some of the buses were phased out.
"We are starting a new bus service in eachvidhan sabha of Himachal which will keep on covering the constituency throughout the day," he said.