Launches m-Fitness App
30 percent subsidy is being given for the purchase of buses on 390 new bus routes
Punjab Newsline, Shimla-
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, while presiding over the fifth meeting of HP State Transport Development and Road Safety Council here today, said that the State Government is continuously working with priority on transparency, digital reforms, road safety, employment generation, and green mobility in the transport sector.
He stated that during the period from January 2023 to December 2025, the Transport Department generated revenue of Rs. 2,597.59 crore, which was Rs 1,098 crore (approximately 73 percent) more than the corresponding period of the previous government. This increase is a direct result of a strengthened enforcement system and digital initiatives.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh being included among the leading states in the NITI Aayog’s India Electric Mobility Index reflects the State Government’s commitment to green transport and sustainable development. The government will continue to work with full determination to realize the vision of a “Green Himachal.”
He said that as per the Explanatory Memorandum of the Finance Department for the year 2024-25, the Transport Department ranks second in the state in terms of revenue/tax collection, after the State Taxes and Excise Department.
He further said that to make the vehicle fitness system scientific and transparent, Automated Testing Stations (ATS) are being established. In the government sector, these centers will be set up at Haroli in Una and Nadaun in Hamirpur, while in the private sector, ATS have been approved at Ranital in Kangra, Bilaspur, Kangu in Mandi, Nalagarh in Solan, and Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur. Construction of the Ranital ATS has been completed and work at the remaining centers is progressing rapidly. In addition, 95 percent of the construction work of the Inspection and Certification Centre at Baddi has been completed, which is targeted to be made operational soon.
The Transport Minister said that to make vehicle fitness and other transport services digital, transparent, and citizen-friendly a mobile fitness app and an auto-approval mechanism will be implemented. Under this system, digital fitness testing of commercial vehicles will be conducted with photo and GPS-based evidence and services such as permits, driving licenses, and fitness certificates will be automatically approved once all required documents are complete. He said that the paperless working system will ensure timely services to citizens and will save them from making repeated visits to RTO offices.
He informed that since February 2025, two registered vehicle scrapping centers are operational at Banalgi in Solan and Nadaun in Hamirpur, where 1,692 old vehicles have so far been scrapped scientifically, thereby promoting environmental protection.
Additionally to make the driving test process transparent, an Automated Driving Test Track and Traffic Park is being constructed at Haroli in Una district at a cost of Rs 10.23 crore. The construction work is expected to be completed within this year.
He said that a 40 percent subsidy is being provided for converting old petrol/diesel taxis into e-taxis, and up to 30 percent subsidy is being given for the purchase of buses on 390 new bus routes, for which applications have been invited. Moreover, to promote self-employment and green mobility, the E-Taxi Scheme has also been implemented under the Rajiv Gandhi Self Employment Scheme. Under this scheme, a 50 percent subsidy is being provided, and so far 96 beneficiaries have been given assistance amounting to Rs. 6.94 crore.
The Transport Minister said that the department is moving from manual enforcement to digital enforcement, under which the e-challan system, e-identification system (e-detection system), and Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) have been implemented, making traffic enforcement faceless and digital.
Emphasizing road safety, he said that a road safety curriculum has been implemented from classes 6 to 12, and a total of Rs. 2,057.34 lakh has been allocated to all stakeholder departments such as Public Works, Police, Education, and Health under road safety activities. As a positive result, road accidents have reduced by 10 percent, the death rate by 9 percent, and the number of seriously injured persons by 6 percent.
The Transport Minister said that in the field of employment generation, 1,061 stage carriage bus routes have been approved for the private sector, and more than 39,000 taxi/maxi permits have been issued, providing employment and self-employment opportunities to thousands of youths.
He also launched the m-Fitness App of the Transport department facilitating digital fitness inspection, photo and GPS evidence, prevention of fake certificates, paperless process and real time data Synchronization.
In the direction of environmental protection, a solar energy–based EV charging station has been installed at the Transport Department complex in Shimla. Across the state, 129 locations have been identified for EV charging stations, out of which 30 stations are currently operational.
Additional Chief Secretary, R.D. Nazeem, Managing Director HRTC Nipun Jindal, Commissioner Transport Neeraj Kumar, IG Traffic Gaurav Singh besides others senior officers of the department.