The Himachal Pradesh Transport Department has registered a robust 17 percent year-on-year increase in revenue, collecting Rs 912 crore in the financial year 2024-25, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said on Sunday.   Buoyed by this growth, the department is now poised to cross the Rs 1,000 crore milestone by the end of the current fiscal. Weve already collected Rs 150 crore in just the first 45 days of the financial year 2025-26, said Agnihotri, who also holds the Transport portfolio, while addressing a press conference in Shimla.   Sharing key statistics, he said that nearly 1.5 lakh new vehicles were registered in the past year, pushing the total vehicle count in the state to 23 lakh — including eight lakh private cars. Additionally, one lakh new driving licences were issued, raising the total number of licence holders in Himachal to 16 lakh.   Recognizing the Departments performance, the Centre has enhanced its annual allocation from Rs 25 crore last year to Rs 28.75 crore this year.   Outlining future expansion, Agnihotri announced that the Department will open up 1,000 new transport routes for private operators. Of the 234 routes under Phase I, 181 have already been allocated. Another 350 routes will be offered to 18-seater vehicles, and tenders have been floated for an additional 422 routes, he said.   At present, around 3,000 routes are operated by private buses in the state. Agnihotri added that the government is committed to expanding and modernizing public transport in Himachal for better connectivity and economic growth.  

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