PRTC staff seek Rs 150 cr pending dues

Patiala, June 21

The financial health of the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) has been severely hit as the government has failed to reimburse the outstanding amount of Rs 150 crore, pending on account of free travel for women in PRTC buses.

Will repay them

The government will soon reimburse the outstanding amount to the PRTC. Vikas Garg, principal secy, Transport department

Consequently, the PRTC has failed to release the salaries of its employees and pensioners. Following the delay in salary for May, employees and pensioners held hold protests outside the PRTC bus stands and depots across the state on Tuesday. During one such protest in Patiala, the protesters burnt the effigy of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Passengers also had a tough time because the agitation disturbed the smooth flow of buses at some places.

Notably, the previous Congress government, led by then Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, had launched the free travel scheme for women. Women comprise 40 per cent of the PRTC’s passengers.

Sources said the PRTC had not been reimbursed the amount since December last year. Nirmal Singh Dhaliwal, convener, PRTC Workers’ Unions, said, “Instead of fixing the problem, the new government has made it worse. The PRTC has not received reimbursement even once after the AAP formed the government.” Meanwhile, PRTC MD Poonamdeep Kaur could not be contacted.