The North News
Chandigarh, April 7
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday flagged off 250 new buses for the Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC) in Patiala, describing the move as a major step towards improving public transport and creating jobs across the state. Speaking at the launch, Mann said the addition of the buses would make travel safer, more comfortable and more accessible for people in both urban and rural Punjab.
He said the current expansion was only part of a wider plan to strengthen the state-run fleet. According to Mann, more than 300 additional buses are expected to be added soon. He also announced that by the end of May 2026, 254 ordinary buses and 100 mini-buses would be inducted into the PRTC fleet, while tenders have already been floated for another 309 buses.
Mann said the expansion would also generate employment, with the current phase expected to create 681 jobs. He added that the proposed induction of 309 more buses could create another 928 positions. Referring to an earlier fleet addition in 2024, he said around 110 buses had already created jobs for 165 people.
Highlighting PRTC’s financial performance, Mann said the corporation’s gross revenue had risen by 53%, from ₹607.09 crore in 2021–22 to ₹927.83 crore in 2024–25. He said the figure was expected to cross ₹950 crore in the current financial year.
The chief minister also pointed to welfare initiatives linked to public transport. He said that since 2022, more than 34.63 crore women in Punjab had travelled free on state buses, costing the government ₹1,574 crore. Under the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra scheme, he said 9,529 passengers had received free HVAC bus travel to religious destinations.
Mann also used the occasion to highlight wider development work in Patiala Rural, claiming around ₹400 crore had been spent since his government came to power on sectors including agriculture, health, education, roads, civic services and flood control, while appealing for continued public support ahead of the 2027 elections.
