Haryana Roadways awaits nod from neighbouring states

Chandigarh: The Haryana transport department has written to the governments of Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir, seeking their nod to resume inter-state bus service in the northern region.

Currently, the Haryana Roadways buses are plying to Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh only. Once Delhi gives the permission, the state will also start deploying Volvo buses on Chandigarh-Delhi-Gurugram route.

According to the transport department officials, if all goes well, the Haryana Roadways will soon start full-fledged inter-state service to all the neighbouring states, especially Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir.

Since the start of unlock procedure, Haryana has pressed around 1,700 buses in service, plying within the state as well as to Rajasthan and UP. Once the situation further eases, the Roadways will deploy another 500 buses on these routes.

Director general of transport department Virender Dahiya admitted that it could take some more time before the entire fleet is out on road.

“As of now, we are waiting for response from the neighbouring states. In view of the guidelines of the Union government, we are hopeful of getting an early response. So far as plying of buses within the state is concerned, we will run more buses only after the demand increases,’’ said Dahiya.

Currently, schools-colleges are closed, and all head offices in Chandigarh and Panchkula, including mini secretariat and Haryana civil secretariat, have been declared out of bounds for the general public, he said, adding, “We are here to provide service but only in accordance with the demand.”

Haryana has around 3,600 buses in its fleet, out of which 100 are kept on standby. Due to lockdown there was no service between April and June.