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Himachal Pradesh to Procure 1,000 More Electric Buses, Eyes 100 Hydrogen Buses

While flagging off 297 new electric buses for HRTC in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the state will procure 1,000 more electric buses this year and is considering the induction of 100 hydrogen-powered buses.

August 01, 2026. By Mrinmoy Dey

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced that the state government would procure 1,000 additional electric buses during the current year, with the tendering process to commence shortly.

He further added that the government was also considering the procurement of 100 hydrogen-powered buses to protect the state's natural environment from the adverse impacts of climate change and to position Himachal Pradesh as a leading green energy state in the country.

The announcement was made during a media interaction on the sidelines of an event where the CM flagged off 297 new Type-I electric buses from Kyarighat in Solan district for deployment across various depots of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC), increasing the total electric fleet to 500 vehicles.

The Chief Minister pointed out that electric buses were considerably more economical than diesel buses. The operational cost of an electric bus, including staff and other expenses, was approximately INR 36-38 per kilometre, compared to INR 76-86 per kilometre for a diesel bus. With the addition of these buses in the fleet, savings of INR 40-50 per kilometre would be ensured for HRTC, he said.

The Chief Minister also launched the 'HimBus Plus Card' which would offer passengers a modern, digital and cashless travel experience. Regular passengers would receive a five percent discount on bus fares, while senior citizens would be entitled to a 15 percent concession. In addition, passengers would be eligible for cash back up to INR 2,000 per month, depending on their monthly usage of HRTC services.

Sukhu said that the government had envisioned making Himachal Pradesh a green energy state in its very first budget and accordingly prioritised the promotion of electric mobility. He noted that the current electric buses had a range of around 200 kilometres per charge, while the next generation of buses would be capable of travelling 250 to 300 kilometres on a single charge. These buses were being procured by the government as part of its broader strategy to make HRTC self-sustaining, he said.

Tags:

Sustainable Transport

Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

Himachal Pradesh CM

Himachal Road Transport Corporation

HRTC Electric Buses

Himachal Pradesh to Procure Hydrogen Buses

HimBus Plus Card