'Hry Roadways has gone into Rs 450 cr loss due to prev govts'

Haryana transport minister Krishan Lal Panwar today said that the state's Roadways Department has gone into a loss of Rs 450 crore due to "negligence" by previous state governments, but the present dispensation is working for the "maximisation" of its revenue.
"Previous governments did not pay any attention to uplift the Haryana Roadways which has led to this miserable conditions and the department has gone into the loss of Rs 450 crore," Panwar said here today while speaking to mediapersons.
33 lakh people need bus services in the state but the services are availed by only 13 lakh passengers, the minister said.

The department, however, has come up with a "masterplan" to ensure that bus services are being offered to all parts of the state, and the roadways could maximise its revenue.
As per this plan, while the private operators will provide buses and drivers, the government will provide conductors.
He said the government has hundreds of buses lying idle in yard due to shortage of drivers.

"We will recruit 1,000 drivers on contract basis to ensure the buses ply on all routes," he said.
Besides, 636 technical staff would be recruited soon and another set of 251 technical staff would be recruited later, the minister said.

Panwar said the government has also planned to purchase 600 new buses. The government has issued orders to install CCTV camera in buses for safety reasons.
Jind-Katra direct bus service from the local bus stand here was inaugurated today, which will begin its journey at 5 pm and cover a total of 547 km distance reaching its destination at 7 am.
The fare of the bus will be Rs 516, he said.