Punjab’s Government bus operator, PEPSU Road Transport Corporation (PRTC), has decided to put on road 50 buses every month to provide smooth ride to the commuters.
The PRTC would also induct 250 new buses in its fleet soon. As a first consignment, chassis of 20 buses have reached the head office of PRTC which would soon be sent to Jalandhar and Jaipur, folliowing which it would be rolled out in the form of new buses on the roads.
“PRTC has fixed a target of getting readied 50 buses every month. Under this scheme, the routes lying dormant, amounting to one lakh kilometers, would also be made operational soon,” said an official spokesperson. He said that out of the buses which PRTC has in its fleet as of now, 684 belong to PRTC while the 284 are under kilometer scheme.
“Inspite of this, routes of one lakh kilometer are lying closed. The new PRTC managing director Manjit Singh Narang and chairman Avtar Singh Brar has chalked out a scheme of inducting 250 new buses. In the continuation of this, chassis of 20 buses have reached head office,” he said.
PRTC MD Narang said that due to shortage of staff, many buses had to be grounded but recently 200 conductors have been recruited while another 200 have been placed under waiting list. With this recruitment, the situation on the ground is for sure to change, he added.