Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday announced free bus pass facility for the students of both government and private colleges and universities.
The announcement came as the State Government inducted 58 new buses, as a part of total 842 modern vehicles being added into the state fleet in one go for the first time ever at a cost of Rs 400 crores. The Chief Minister himself drove the bus and led the cavalcade of the new buses while flagging off the same from his official residence.
Inducting the first tranche of 30 buses for PRTC and 28 buses for PUNBUS, Channi congratulated the people of the state, especially women and the students, who can now enjoy their free travel in the new buses. Reiterating his Government’s commitment to provide best facilities to the common masses, the Chief Minister said that 105 bus terminals are being constructed and renovated at a cost of Rs 400 crore. Besides issuing 1406 new bus permits, 425 new bus routes would be added in the state, he said. Lauding the state Transport Minister Amarinder Singh Raja Warring for his efforts in last three months, Channi said that the period witnessed the Transport Department's revival as a result of stringent action against erring bus operators and tax evaders.
“Crackdown on those running the state transport as a mafia has resulted in significant enhancement of department revenue,” said the Chief Minister, who was accompanied by Warring.
He asserted that no one would be allowed to fleece commuters and a transparent, efficient, and effective transport mechanism has already been put in place by his government.
The new vehicles are fitted with BS 6 system and have SCR technology which reduces pollution emission to almost negligible. The buses body fabrication is also in adherence with the GoI notified AIS 052 Bus Code of Practice norms notified by the Ministry of Road Transport, a spokesperson of the department shared.
The 52-seater buses are equipped with a Panic button facility on every seat besides an online provision to track the bus movement through PUNBUS and PRTC tracker applications.