Shimla: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today flagged off the electrical bus services of HRTC under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme of Government of India in 90:10 ratio.

Thakur flagged off 11 electric vans for local destination in Shimla from the State Secretariat on nine different routes. There would be no change in the fare and it would be the same as of those HRTC taxis already operating within Municipal Corporation limits of the town.

The taxis will operate from State Secretariat to Indira Gandhi Medical College and hospital (IGMC), Old Bus stand to HP Secretariat, Dhalli Tunnel to IGMC, Boileauganj to CTO, Old Bus Stand to CTO, Titukandi crossing to CTO, Navbahar to IGMC, Summer-hill to CTO.

As many as 50 buses have been provided to the state under the scheme.

The Chief Minister said that these electrical cabs would also be introduced in other districts as well in a phased manner.

Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, Urban development Minister Sarveen Chaudhary, Agriculture Minister Ram Lal Markanda, Transport Minister Govind Singh were also present on the occasion amongst others.