CHANDIGARH: Reaffirming the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s commitment to providing robust and accessible public transport, Punjab Finance and Transport Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday announced a major expansion of the state’s transport network. He said that the Punjab Government is set to add a massive fleet of 659 buses to the PEPSU Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) and 606 buses to PUNBUS.
Transport Minister Harpal Singh Cheema shared that 250 buses were recently added to the fleet under the Kilometer (KM) Scheme. He said, “This initiative was exclusively extended to residents of Punjab to generate maximum employment opportunities within the state. Under this Kilometer scheme, the private individuals owning these buses were given the freedom to have their vehicles fabricated according to their own preferences, provided they strictly complied with all government standards and safety norms.”
To achieve the complete target of 659 buses for PRTC, the transport department is not stopping at the Kilometer Scheme additions. Harpal Singh Cheema said, “PRTC is currently going through an active tender process to procure an additional 309 standard buses alongside 100 Midi buses, ensuring a comprehensive upgrade to the regional transport infrastructure.”
Providing a detailed breakdown of the 606 buses designated for PUNBUS, the Transport Minister outlined a systematic procurement plan designed to optimize operations. He said, “Out of this total allocation, a significant portion of 387 buses will be directly added to the general PUNBUS fleet to immediately address the growing demand for public transit across various routes. The remaining additions to the PUNBUS fleet will be executed under the Kilometer Scheme to further boost operational efficiency and route coverage.”
He added, “This specific phase includes the induction of 19 PUNBUS Volvo buses and 100 HVAC buses, ensuring comfortable travel options for passengers. Furthermore, this expansion will be rounded out with the addition of 100 ordinary buses under the KM Scheme, bringing the grand total of new PUNBUS vehicles to 606.”
Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that this historic fleet expansion across both PRTC and PUNBUS is expected to significantly improve connectivity across Punjab. The addition of new buses in PRTC and PUNBUS fleet promises to offer a more comfortable, reliable, and frequent travel experience for daily commuters while simultaneously boosting local entrepreneurial opportunities and state revenue.
