Shimla, Sep 26 Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Saturday said the state government has strengthened direct bus services to AIIMS Bilaspur, with the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) currently operating 10 electric bus services connecting various parts of the state directly to the hospital.
The services are benefiting around 1,000 patients and their attendants every day, he said.
The initiative has been taken to provide convenient, affordable and timely transportation to patients and their attendants travelling to AIIMS Bilaspur, Agnihotri said.
“The services have eliminated the need for patients and their attendants to change buses en route, enabling them to reach the hospital within the scheduled time,” he said.
At present, electric bus services are being operated from Chintpurni, Una, Haroli, Solan, Mandi and Jahu to AIIMS Bilaspur, he said.
In addition, direct bus services to the hospital are available from Karloti, Bandla, Shah Talai, Ghumarwin and Bilaspur in Bilaspur district.
Four daily trips are being operated from Ghumarwin to AIIMS, while eight trips are being operated from Bilaspur, he said.
“More areas of the state would be connected directly to AIIMS Bilaspur through HRTC bus services in the coming days,” Agnihotri said.
He said two new electric bus services would soon be started to AIIMS Bilaspur – one from Nalagarh via Ramshehar and another from Baddi via Bagheri.
“A new bus service will also be started from the Nachan Assembly constituency. Other areas will also be connected to the service as required in the future,” he said.
Agnihotri said the initiative was aimed at making healthcare more accessible by strengthening direct public transport connectivity to AIIMS Bilaspur and ensuring that patients and their attendants could travel safely, comfortably and economically.
(PTI News)
