Himachal will become the first state of North India.
Shimla, JAN 1,2025
Like foreign countries, people of Himachal will also use smart discount cards while traveling in buses. Himachal Path Parivahan Nigam (HRTC) is going to provide the facility of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) cards to the passengers on the new year. This card, which looks like an ATM card, will be issued a ticket with the discount offered on the card as soon as it is tapped on the e-ticketing machine.
Around 80,000 people in the state are taking advantage of the facility of discounted travel in the corporation’s buses. These include school-children and employees, besides yellow card, green card, and Samman cardholders. After the validity of the existing card expires, now only RFID cards will be issued to the people. It is also proposed to make the facility of issuing this card available online for the passengers on the corporation’s website. The HRTC management has prepared the card and has done its trial. Now preparations are on for the formal launch of the card by taking time from the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister.
As a pilot project, this service will be started first from the capital, Shimla. For this, computer-generated card printers are being installed at the old bus stand and Tutikandi ISBT. Himachal will be the first state in North India to provide RFID card facilities.
In the series of making HRTC hi-tech, after NCMC, there is a plan to provide another new facility. RFID cards will be issued to the passengers availing themselves of concessional travel. On tapping the e-ticketing machine, the ticket will be issued with a discount based on the data fed in the card. There is a plan to formally launch the card soon. Rohanchand Thakur, Managing Director, HRTC
