PRTC revenue sees a dip

Bharat Khanna

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 11

Even as the Deputy CM’s co-owned buses of Orbit Transport, Dabawali Transport, Taj and other transports had resumed after one week of suspension followed by public outcry over Moga Molestation incident, but Chief Minister’s kin’s buses continued to make profits during suspension of Badal’s buses while the state continues to ignore a better deployment of its own PRTC buses.

Since May 3, the Fateh Transport, owned by CM’s cousin Lali Badal, continues to be given the best deal on the Bathinda-Muktsar route while the PRTC buses continue to be treated as its poor cousins.

On Bathinda to Muktsar to Jalalabad route, the Fateh transport already enjoys advantage of timings while the ending timings of Dabawali Transport, co-owned by Sukhbir Badal, were given to Fateh Transport from May 3 to May 9.

On Bathinda to Muktsar route, there are about 74 total timings provided for all buses out of which about 22 timings for departure from Bathinda bus stand are given to Fateh and Madhir buses that are owned by Fateh Transport. A single departure time (frequency) of New Guru Kashi Transport (NGK) Transport, purchased by Fateh Transport few years ago, also plies off on this Bathinda–Muktsar route. Fateh Transport is owned by Paramjit Singh Lali Badal, cousin of Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal.

Similarly, Dabawali Transport co-owned by Sukhbir Badal also has advantage with about 15 timings for Bathinda to Muktsar to Jalalabad. The PRTC on this route carries 16 timings for Bathinda to Muktsar.

Besides Dabawali Transport, Fateh Transport, only the PRTC and the Punjab Roadways Muktsar Depot are running on this route from Bathinda to Muktsar. Last three timings belong to Dabawali buses from 6:15 pm to 7:00 pm while the PRTC, having 15 minutes duration, has its last time at 6:00 pm to 6:15 pm. Instead of taking benefit, the PRTC decided to give these last three timings of Dabawali transport to Fateh Transport without any objection.

It’s noteworthy that Lali Badal’s Fateh Transport is running its buses mostly on the Bathinda-to-Muktsar route while they had also managed to get some buses on Bathinda-to-Chandigarh and Muktsar to Chandigarh. Lali, once parted ways with CM Prakash Singh Badal and had a dance in front of the CM house when Sukhbir lost MP seat from Faridkot 1999 to Congress candidate Jagmeet Brar. But after 2007, the SAD (B) came in power, Lali Badal was made member in the Punjab Public Service Commission and again rejoined hands with CM Badal.

Time table instructor, PRTC, Bathinda, Gurcharan Singh, refused to give revenue details about the PRTC on this route but said, “Yes, Fateh buses plied off at last three timings but we are not giving benefit to any transporter. Anybody could have taken this benefit but as we have a few buses available with us and our many buses are in the workshop for maintenance, we could not take benefit. Before suspension, the total daily revenue of the PRTC Bathind Depot was between Rs 11 to 12 lakh whereas during the Orbit buses suspension period it was about Rs 13 lakh as daily revenue.”