Himachal CM Exempts Police Personnel from Mandatory HIMBUS Card for HRTC Travel.
Shimla:
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu yesterday announced that Himachal Pradesh Police personnel will be exempted from the mandatory requirement of the HIMBUS Card for travel in Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses. The decision aims to simplify official travel and reduce unnecessary financial and administrative burden on the police force.
Clarifying the decision, the Chief Minister said that police personnel from the rank of Constable to Inspector are already contributing a fixed monthly amount, deducted directly from their salaries, towards concessional travel provided by the HRTC. In light of this existing contribution system, the additional requirement of obtaining a digital HIMBUS Card was found to be redundant.
“Our police personnel are required to travel extensively across the state for official duties and investigations,” said Chief Minister Sukhu. “Since they already carry official departmental identity cards and valid manual passes, we have decided to exempt them from the mandatory HIMBUS Card to avoid any extra financial or procedural hurdles.”
He further stated that departmental ID cards and existing manual passes will continue to be treated as valid proof for availing travel concessions on HRTC buses.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the exemption acknowledges the nature of police work, which demands high mobility and swift action. He noted that reliance on digital verification during urgent duties could cause delays, which the government is keen to avoid.
While the HIMBUS Card was introduced as a state-wide initiative to digitize subsidies and curb misuse of travel concessions, the Chief Minister pointed out that the police department already follows a transparent contribution and identification mechanism, making additional oversight unnecessary.
The decision is expected to bring significant relief to thousands of police personnel across Himachal Pradesh, enabling them to perform their duties more efficiently and without incurring additional out-of-pocket expenses.
Officials said the move reflects the government’s commitment to addressing practical concerns faced by frontline personnel and ensuring smoother implementation of welfare and administrative policies.
