Deputy CM Agnihotri forced to issue clarification on revised HRTC bus luggage tariff

Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Mukesh Agnihotri has dispelled reports of hike in luggage fare in Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses saying the charged had, in fact, been slashed.

Issuing a clarification on his social media pages and handles, Agnihotri said the reports of the hike were social media rumours and urged people not to believe in these. “There are vested interests behind the floating of these rumours,” he said.

Dispelling the misinformation, Agnihotri said the recent amendments to the luggage policy had reduced the fare. He said the revised policy allowed passengers to carry up to 30 kg of luggage for free in two bags when traveling on HRTC buses.

Additionally, he said the fare for sending small luggage without a passenger had been lowered, offering more affordable options for those relying on HRTC to transport goods. He explained that the changes were made by amending Clause 26 of the luggage policy notified on November 6, 2023, in a passenger-friendly move aimed at easing financial burdens.

Key changes to luggage fare

Under the new policy:

• For luggage up to 5 kg sent without a passenger, only one-fourth of a full fare will be charged
• For luggage between 6 kg and 20 kg, half the fare will be applicable
• Full fare will be charged for sending luggage between 21 kg and 40 kg
• For luggage between 41 kg and 80 kg, passengers will need to pay the equivalent of two full fares

Previously, passengers sending up to 40 kg of luggage had to pay the full fare of one passenger, regardless of the actual weight. This led to situations where sending even 1 kg of luggage required paying the same fare as 40 kg. The amended policy now ensures that passengers are only charged for the actual weight of the luggage, making it more cost-effective for small packages.