Taking serious note of reports on dangerous condition of Punjab Roadways buses, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday directed the State Transport Secretary to take immediate corrective steps to ensure safe travel for the commuters.
Capt Amarinder, reacting to a media reports that these buses were plying on worn-out tyres and old parts in the absence of adequate spare part supplies, expressed grave concern and asked the Transport Department to make necessary supplies available to the depots on urgent basis.
No delay or laxity in this regard would be accepted, said the Chief Minister, adding that the lives of the commuters could not be allowed to be risked in this manner.
“If there is a single mishap due to shortage of essential supplies, the onus will be on the concerned department,” he warned, issuing explicit instructions for immediate steps to make the necessary supplies available to the depots serving the Roadways.
Pointing out that his Government had, since taken over, not allowed the severe funds crunch in the state to impact urgent development works, the Chief Minister assured that it would continue to intervene wherever necessary in the interest of the people.
It was the Government’s responsibility to ensure availability of funds for urgent needs, especially where the lives of the people were at stake, he said, adding that there could be no compromise on the safety of the commuters.
Reacting to the reported argument of the transport officials that the tyres had been allocated as per the requirements stated by the general managers of the respective depots, Capt Amarinder said that if any negligence was found on the part of the general managers, the same would be severely dealt with.