Chandigarh: The Punjab government has announced a comprehensive travel relief initiative for students appearing in the upcoming National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, making all Punjab Roadways buses completely free of cost for candidates. The administrative order, directed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, establishes a three-day zero-fare window spanning June 20, 21, and 22 to ensure students can travel to and from their allotted examination centres without facing financial constraints.
ਬਹੁਤ ਸਾਰੇ ਗਰੀਬ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀ NEET ਪ੍ਰੀਖਿਆ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕੋਲ ਪ੍ਰੀਖਿਆ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਤੱਕ ਜਾਣ ਲਈ ਕਿਰਾਏ ਲਈ ਪੈਸੇ ਵੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦੇ। ਜਦੋਂ ਕੇਜਰੀਵਾਲ ਜੀ ਨੇ ਹਾਲ ਹੀ ਵਿੱਚ NEET ਦੇ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਗੱਲ ਕੀਤੀ, ਤਾਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਮਦਦ ਦੀ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਕੀਤੀ। NEET ਪ੍ਰੀਖਿਆ 21 ਜੂਨ ਨੂੰ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਲਈ, ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ 20, 21 ਅਤੇ 22 ਜੂਨ…
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) May 20, 2026
The decision follows a recent interaction between Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and several NEET aspirants, during which multiple students from economically weaker sections highlighted severe financial stress and an inability to afford long-distance transit fares to reach their urban test destinations. In response to these public grievances, the state administration passed the immediate transport relief measure, allowing any registered candidate to use their official examination admit card as a valid travel ticket across all state-operated routes.
The initiative aims to safeguard the academic prospects of rural and underprivileged students, removing transportation costs as a barrier during the high-stakes competitive cycle. Chief Minister Mann finalized the rollout on Wednesday, stating that the state-sponsored transport facility remains an essential welfare intervention designed to support the student community. He extended his best wishes to all candidates appearing for the nationwide medical entrance examination, emphasizing that the provincial transport network will remain fully optimized to ensure smooth, unhindered transits for all eligible aspirants over the designated three-day period.
