PRTC to roll out rural bus service

Gagan K Teja

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 24

The Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) is all set to roll out its first batch of buses under the Pendu (Rural) Bus Service Scheme after the Punjab and Haryana High Court gave a go-ahead recently to the Punjab Govern-ment for it.

Having a sanctioned fleet of 1,075 buses, the PRTC is running 1,050 buses on various routes in Punjab. However, with a view to provide bus service in remote rural areas, the corporation has identified 106 new routes and 80 new 34-seater buses will be put on these before November 15, 2016. The first batch of seven buses is already at the PRTC workshop and many more are there for the final inspection.

Notably, the state government had decided to start the rural bus service in the areas that do not have any means of transport but the decision had not gone down well with a faction of employees who felt that it could prove to be a disaster for the financial health of the corporation since the routes were non-profitable. They demanded that before starting the buses, the government should take the responsibility of making these routes viable and compensate at a cost of Rs 35 per km so that it does not affect the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation.

Later, a few mini bus operators approached the High Court, challenging some provisions in the scheme and the Punjab Transport Policy. This led to some uncertainly over the launch of the scheme.

The two contractors, who have been given the tender for these 80 buses, are ready with a few buses that are parked at the PRTC workshop at Nabha Road.

Now, with the court deciding the matter in the favour of the state government, the corporation is all set to roll out the service at the earliest.

When contacted, PRTC Managing Director Ravinder Singh said it was the duty of state transport undertaking to run buses in the areas where people actually needed them without caring about profits. “The PRTC has managed to break even its expenditures and income. Apart from clearing all dues of pensioners, who retired till December, 2015, we are releasing salaries and pensions every month, which in itself is a big achievement considering that till about two years ago, we had a backlog of four to five months,” he added.