{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Himachal Faces Transport Chaos as HRTC Staff Strike Tonight, Government Slaps ESMA and Begins Hiring 656 Temporary Drivers",
  "summary": "HRTC drivers and conductors in Himachal Pradesh are set to begin a strike from tonight, while the Sukhu government has imposed ESMA and opened the door to temporary driver recruitment and special permits for private buses.",
  "content": "Himachal Pradesh is staring at a major public transport crisis. Drivers and conductors of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) have announced that they will go on strike from tonight, a move that could leave lakhs of commuters across the state stranded. With the situation escalating, the Sukhu government has taken a tough line and imposed the Essential Services Maintenance Act, or ESMA, on the employees.\n\nThe government did not stop there. To blunt the impact of the strike, it has decided to begin recruiting more than 600 temporary bus drivers starting today. Deputy CM and Transport Minister Mukesh Agnihotri has issued a clear warning to the striking staff, asking them to withdraw their protest call.\n\nWhat triggered the strike\nThe confrontation did not erupt overnight. Medical bills, night allowance and several other allowances of HRTC drivers and conductors have been pending for a long time. Employees are demanding the clearance of these dues, a sum said to total more than 150 crore rupees. Maan Singh, president of the employees' union, says the matter has now slipped out of their hands and that staff will walk off the job from tonight.\n\nThe list of demands is long. It includes night allowance, overtime, the pending instalment of dearness allowance and payment of medical bills. Added to this is the demand to cancel the transfer of union president Maan Singh.\n\nTalks collapse as union walks out\nAn attempt to resolve the dispute was made on Tuesday, before the strike. A meeting was convened under the chairmanship of the Additional Chief Secretary (Transport). During the discussion, union representatives raised the issue of a driver's transfer and dug in on having it cancelled immediately. When no agreement could be reached, the union representatives walked out of the meeting midway.\n\nGovernment's tough move, ESMA for six months\nTo control the situation, the Himachal Pradesh government has declared HRTC an essential service and imposed ESMA. Under this law, going on strike or taking part in one is prohibited, and breaking the rules can invite strict legal action. The government has imposed the law for six months and has also cancelled the employees' leave.\n\nHRTC operates a fleet of around 2,800 buses in Himachal and the corporation employs roughly 12,000 people. That makes the potential reach of the strike enormous.\n\nThe plan to hire 656 temporary drivers\nTo keep buses running through the strike, HRTC management has drawn up a policy for the temporary appointment of drivers. According to a press note issued by the management, walk-in interviews will be held at all the state's Regional Manager (RM) offices at 12 noon on June 24. To take part, a candidate must have at least 3 years of experience and a minimum educational qualification of matriculation. Through this process, around 656 drivers will be appointed on a temporary basis across 31 depots/units.\n\nBeyond that, the necessary staff is also being arranged for running buses through the Himachal Home Guards. The police and administration have been given the necessary instructions to maintain law and order. Additional Chief Secretary Transport RD Nazeem stated bluntly that HRTC employees cannot go on strike because the government has imposed ESMA, and legal action will be taken against employees who fail to follow the rules.\n\nPrivate buses to fill the gap\nTo minimise inconvenience to passengers during the strike, the Private Bus Operators' Association has announced that it will run additional bus services. Private bus operators can apply for special permits to run buses on HRTC's key routes.\n\nThe transport minister's firm stand\nOn the question of the road blockade, Transport Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said clearly that HRTC services would not be allowed to be disrupted. He said ESMA is in force in the state and no one is permitted to take the law into their own hands. According to him, a road blockade will not resolve the demands. Agnihotri alleged that some employee leaders had forgotten the limits of decency in their language and made unnecessary statements, forcing the government to take strict steps. He assured that the public would not be allowed to suffer.\n\nThe minister also said that HRTC is the lifeline of the state. The government will protect the interests of the employees, he said, but the general public cannot be put in difficulty.\n\nAgnihotri under fire on social media\nAmid this entire row, Mukesh Agnihotri has become a target on social media. Users are asking how those who once promised permanent jobs of 58 years are now recruiting temporary drivers and conductors for 1,500 rupees. Several of Mukesh Agnihotri's old videos are also going viral once again.\n\nWhat this means for you\n• In Himachal: Around 2,800 HRTC buses could be affected, so check bus availability before travelling as only private buses will run as backup.\n• For job seekers: Candidates with 3 years' experience and a matriculation pass can apply for temporary driver posts via walk-in interviews at RM offices at 12 noon on June 24.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. When is the HRTC strike starting?\nHRTC drivers and conductors are going on strike from tonight.\n\n2. What is the main reason for the strike?\nThe demand for pending dues of more than 150 crore rupees, including medical bills, night allowance, overtime and the pending instalment of dearness allowance, along with the demand to cancel union president Maan Singh's transfer, is the reason.\n\n3. What step has the government taken?\nThe government has declared HRTC an essential service, imposed ESMA for six months and cancelled employees' leave.\n\n4. What does imposing ESMA mean?\nUnder ESMA, going on strike or taking part in one is prohibited, and breaking the rules can invite strict legal action.\n\n5. How will temporary drivers be recruited?\nWalk-in interviews will be held at all RM offices at 12 noon on June 24, through which around 656 drivers will be appointed temporarily across 31 depots/units.\n\n6. What qualifications are needed for the temporary driver posts?\nA candidate must have at least 3 years of experience and a minimum educational qualification of matriculation.\n\n7. How will passengers travel during the strike?\nThe Private Bus Operators' Association has announced additional bus services, and operators can apply for special permits on key routes.\n\n8. How many buses and employees does HRTC have?\nHRTC has around 2,800 buses and roughly 12,000 employees in Himachal.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/himachal-pradesh/himachala-men-aja-rata-se-thama-sakate-hain-hrtc-ke-pahie-sarakara-ne-thoka-esma-656-asthayi-chalakon-ki-bharti-shuru-2588",
  "category": "Himachal Pradesh",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-24",
  "tags": [
    "HRTC strike",
    "Himachal transport corporation",
    "ESMA",
    "Mukesh Agnihotri",
    "Sukhu government",
    "bus driver recruitment",
    "Maan Singh union"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}