Shimla: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced today that the HIMBUS Card will no longer be mandatory for Himachal Pradesh Police personnel. The decision aims to streamline official travel and remove unnecessary financial and administrative burdens on the state’s police force.
Addressing the matter here today, the Chief Minister clarified that police personnel, ranging from the rank of Constable to Inspector were already contributing a fixed monthly amount deducted from their salary to the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) for concessional travel. Consequently, requiring an additional payment for a digital HIMBUS Card was deemed redundant.
“Our police personnel are required to travel extensively across the state for official duties and investigations,” said Chief Minister Sukhu. “Given that they already possess official departmental identity cards and valid manual passes, we have decided to exempt them from the mandatory requirement of the HIMBUS Card to avoid any extra financial or procedural hurdles.”
He said that Departmental ID cards and existing manual passes will continue to serve as valid proof for travel concessions. The Chief Minister stated that the exemption recognizes the high mobility required for police work, ensuring that personnel are not hindered by digital verification delays during urgent duties.
While the HIMBUS Card was originally introduced as a state-wide initiative to digitize subsidies and curb the misuse of travel concessions, the Chief Minister emphasized that the police department’s existing contribution model and identification system are sufficient for oversight.
This move is expected to provide significant relief to thousands of police personnel across Himachal Pradesh, ensuring they can perform their duties with greater ease and without additional out-of-pocket expenses.
