The North News
Chandigarh, November 6
Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar on Thursday dismissed allegations of bias or irregularities in the leasing of parts of the Ludhiana Bus Stand, calling the claims “baseless, misleading, and politically motivated.” Bhullar clarified that the practice of leasing different parts of bus stands has been followed since previous governments. “Earlier, the Ludhiana Bus Stand was leased as a whole until December 10, 2021. Now, various sections have been leased separately, following the same transparent policy applied across Punjab,” he said.
He explained that the Wellsampan Company had originally built the bus stand in 2006 under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model and operated it until 2016. Later, in 2018, the facility was handed over to Mess. LRY Company on a Maintenance-Operate-Transfer (MOT) basis. However, due to non-payment of concession fees during the Covid-19 pandemic, the department suspended LRY’s contract, and Punbus took over operations from December 10, 2021.
Bhullar added that the department directly managed the bus stand fee collection until recently, deploying 15 employees for the task. To ensure transparency and efficiency, the Transport Department conducted eight online e-auctions through MSTC Ltd, the government’s authorized auctioning agency. “In the latest auction held on 1 August 2025, four bidders participated, and Arjun Yadav & Company offered the highest bid of ₹44,01,000 plus GST. The company has deposited ₹1,02,98,340 in two installments as per the contract,” the minister said.
The agreement, valid for six months or until a comprehensive lease is finalized, authorizes the company to collect the Adda fee from November 1. Bhullar emphasized that the outsourcing move was intended to streamline operations, reduce administrative workload, and enhance revenue transparency.
“All steps have been taken according to procedure, under full government supervision. The entire process reflects our commitment to good governance and accountability,” Bhullar said, urging the public to disregard unfounded propaganda.
He reiterated that the department’s focus remains on improving facilities and ensuring better services for commuters across Punjab.
