Demand to bar long-route HRTC buses from city limits triggers indefinite protest
TNR News Network
SHIMLA:
Life in Himachal Pradesh’s capital came to a grinding halt on Monday (November 3, 2025) as private bus operators and staff launched an indefinite strike, demanding that HRTC buses covering over 40 km routes be barred from entering the city.
The strike, called by the Shimla City Private Bus Drivers, Conductors and Operators’ Union, has disrupted daily commuting for thousands of residents, schoolchildren and office-goers. Nearly 106 private buses that ply within the city limits remained off the roads, forcing many to walk long distances to reach schools, colleges and workplaces.
While the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) pressed additional buses into service to fill the gap, overcrowding and delays were reported across major routes. “Most HRTC buses were packed to capacity. Many passengers were left stranded, waiting for hours,” said a commuter near the old ISBT.
Protest outside RTO office
Private operators parked their buses outside the RTO office and raised slogans demanding the withdrawal of the transport department’s recent decision. According to protesters, the government’s move to restrict buses coming from beyond 40 km to the city has caused “unfair discrimination” against local private operators.
Union representatives argue that the HRTC list of 18 approved routes is incomplete and biased. “Several key routes from Shimla-2 depot, including Shimla-Solan, Shimla-Budhar, Chanaog, Khatnol, Chandi-Kashlog, Dwaru and Chail-Odhar-Dharampur, have been left out,” said a member of the union.
They further claimed that the 2011 notification issued by the Shimla Deputy Commissioner clearly stated that both private and HRTC buses running more than 40 km should be restricted from entering the city, but the rule is now being applied selectively.
Controversy deepens over transport department’s move
The transport department’s decision to deny entry to long-route buses at the old bus stand has sparked widespread discontent. After city traders, the Shimla Nagrik Sabha has now also opposed the move, calling it “anti-public” and demanding an immediate rollback.
According to the Sabha, the new rule will severely inconvenience daily commuters from rural areas who rely on these buses to reach schools, colleges, and marketplaces in Shimla. It warned that if the transport department does not reverse its decision soon, the Sabha will launch a mass agitation along with city residents. “This decision benefits a handful of private operators at the cost of the common people,” it alleged.
HRTC operating 70 additional buses
In response to the strike, HRTC announced that it would run 70 extra buses in and around the city to minimize commuter inconvenience. The corporation maintained that the public would not face major disruptions. However, the morning rush told a different story, with passengers stranded at multiple points and overcrowded buses struggling to accommodate the surge.
As the standoff continues, there is no clarity on when private bus services will resume. The operators’ union has vowed to continue the strike “until the government meets their demands,” signaling that Shimla’s transport woes may drag on for days.
