PRTC resumes mini-bus service in city

Ravi Chandel

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 20

After remaining off the road for months, the PRTC has finally decided to run the MC mini-buses, as per their scheduled time table. However, the organisation hasn’t resumed the services of MC low-line buses in the city.

As per information, there are 20 mini-buses of which 10 buses have started plying in the city and gradually the remaining buses will also hit the roads as per their scheduled time-table.

The 10 low-line buses will remain in the PRTC workshop.

Pleading anonymity, a PRTC official said, it was not feasible to run these buses on the city roads. Firstly, a majority of these buses are defunct and secondly, these buses are so long that they lead to traffic jams while picking and dropping passengers.

Meanwhile, commuters heaved a sigh of relief with the mini-buses plying on roads.

Laadi Singh, a resident of Sivian village, said, “Finally, the authorities concerned addressed our transportation woes. We were facing problems due to lack of transport services. Moreover, it has become almost impossible for girls and senior citizens to travel in the limited bus services because of heavy rush.”

He said they should also resume the MC low-line buses service for the facilitation of the residents.

Sita Ram, superintendent of the PRTC, said, “We have resumed 10 buses on their scheduled routes such as Behman Diwana, Sangat, Model Town, Rama Mandi refinery, Central Jail, Airport, Sivian, Narwana and Gurusar Sainiwala. These buses will make four rounds in a day on their scheduled routes. Besides, we will also resume the services or the remaining 10 buses in the city.”

Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Udaydeep Sidhu said, “I am not aware that the PRTC has resumed the MC mini-buses service in the city. Besides, if they want any kind of assistance on their routes, I am open to addressing their grievances.”

Surender Singh, general manager, PRTC, confirmed that they had resumed the MC mini-bus service in the city, but said they were not going to resume the MC low-line buses as it was not viable to run them on the city roads.

Besides, these buses are lying defunct for the past many months in the workshop.