After 2 failed attempts, PRTC leases out shops at bus stand

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 22

After several hiccups, the bus stand shops and the canteen were on Thursday auctioned on a higher monthly rent than the previous year. Notably, two previous auction bids could not materialise allegedly due to the high rates of lease quoted by the PRTC authorities.

Parveen Kumar, General Manager of PRTC, Bathinda depot, said, “Last year, shops at the bus stand were auctioned at a monthly rental of Rs 4.65 lakh (contract for 11 months) and we were expecting an increase in it this year. After failing to attract prospective bidders twice this year, finally we have managed to auction shops at a monthly rental of Rs 5.50 lakh.”

Besides, there are two big canteens and one dhaba at the city bus stand, which cater to hundreds of passengers who visited here on a daily basis. This year, the 11-month contract of the shops was bagged by a new party.

It is pertinent to mention here that the auction of parking lot was still pending as the matter was sub judice now. The auction to lease out the bookstore was also pending.

Now, PRTC would garner 60.50 lakh in 11 months as against a revenue of Rs 44 lakh in the same lease period last year. Besides staff of buses, hundreds of passengers visit the city bus stand on a daily basis who purchase eatables from the canteens and dhaba.