Shimla, May 9, 2025 — Traveling by bus in Himachal Pradesh has just burnt a bigger hole in commuters’ pockets.
The state government, citing massive losses faced by the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC), has hiked fares across the board — from local ordinary buses to long-distance luxury coaches.
New Fares, Old Problems
From Shimla to Kangra, passengers will now pay ₹480 instead of ₹385. Shimla to Hamirpur? ₹305, up from ₹245.
The once ₹665 ticket from Shimla to Chamba now costs a steep ₹888. Whether you're a student, a daily wage earner, or a tourist, the pinch is hard to miss.
Luxury Buses Under Scanner Too
In a first, the government has slapped a hefty ₹9 lakh annual tax on private luxury buses, most of which had been running tax-free till now. About 250 such buses are operating on Himachal roads. Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri justified the move, saying HRTC is drowning in a loss of ₹1,355 crore and needs funds to survive.
Backlash Begins
Opposition parties and locals are fuming. They say this hike is anti-poor and unfair at a time when inflation is already hurting the common man.
With no railway network in most of Himachal, buses are the only option for many — making this fare hike a double whammy.
Relief on the Horizon?
Trying to soften the blow, the government has announced plans to upgrade the HRTC fleet — 700 new buses, including 350 electric ones, are on the way.
But whether new buses will ease the public’s anger over high fares remains to be seen.
For now, Himachalis have little choice but to dig deeper into their pockets if they want to get anywhere.
