he new electric buses inducted into the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) fleet—touted for offering a modern and eco-friendly travel experience—are now grappling with technical issues regarding headlight focus. On the narrow, winding roads and sharp bends of the mountains, the headlight beams scatter haphazardly instead of focusing on the road ahead. This causes difficulty in steering and subjects drivers to mental stress.
According to e-bus drivers, most hilly and rural roads in Himachal lack street lighting at night; consequently, the headlights serve as the driver’s eyes.
**Challenges at sharp turns**
Due to improper beam alignment, drivers fail to spot sharp turns, oncoming vehicles, or the edges of deep roadside ravines in time. With drivers covering an average of 150 kilometers daily, even a minor technical glitch—such as a headlight issue—can pose a significant safety risk. **297 buses; ₹800 daily maintenance cost; inadequate staff**
The HRTC fleet includes approximately 297 electric buses from the company Olectra. Under the operational contract, the corporation pays the company about ₹800 per bus daily for operations and routine maintenance. Despite this, the company’s technical infrastructure at the depot level remains incomplete. While major technical faults may not be surfacing, there is a lack of sufficient auto-electricians to address essential issues like headlight adjustments. The deployment of other technical staff, including tiremen, has also been slow. **Night trips on local routes are the most critical**
Most of these electric buses operate on local routes connecting district headquarters to suburban and rural areas, including trips scheduled for late evening and night. Amidst narrow, uneven roads, sharp bends, and stray cattle, a headlight malfunction can directly compromise the safety of passengers and drivers.
**Management: Issue Not Present in All Buses**
According to HRTC management, the headlight issue has not affected all 297 buses but is limited to those operating on specific routes; therefore, it cannot be viewed as a failure of the entire system. Management states that Olectra is increasing its technical staff, and the headlight alignment problem will be rectified on a priority basis as soon as qualified electricians are deployed.
