Uncertainty prevails over city bus service

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 26

Once again uncertainty prevails over the running of city bus service in Bathinda after a civil writ petition filed by a private bus operator in the High Court.

It is said in the petition that the PRTC is not running the Municipal Corporation (MC) city mini-buses within their specified routes.

The Additional State Transport Commissioner (STC) has directed representatives of the civic and PRTC to submit their report on the issue so that the High Court’s decision could be implemented.

As per the information available, the private bus operator has objected to three routes of the mini-buses. These routes are bus stand to Goniana Mandi, bus stand to Dera Rummiwala and railway station to Sangat Kainchian.

Karnail Singh, superintendent, PRTC, said, “Though a reply in this regard is being filed with senior officials, the private bus operator, who has filed the petition, himself does not follow their specified routes.”

Besides, the authorities concerned have also directed them to submit a report on alternative routeswhich are economically viable, he added.

The superintendent said as per the guidelines, these mini-buses could cover more than the permissible length of 5 km beyond the MC limit.