Chandigarh: Punjab finance and transport minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday said the state govt was set to add a massive fleet of 659 buses to the PEPSU Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) and 606 buses to the PUNBUS fleet.Pointing out that 250 buses were recently added to the fleet under the Kilometre Scheme, Cheema said, “This initiative was exclusively extended to residents of Punjab to generate maximum employment opportunities within the state. Under the Kilometre 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 govt standards and safety norms.““To achieve the complete target of 659 buses for PRTC, the transport department is not stopping at the Kilometre Scheme additions. The 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,” he said.Providing details about the 606 buses designated for PUNBUS, the minister said, “Out of the 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 Kilometre Scheme to further boost operational efficiency and route coverage.“He added, “This specific phase includes the induction of 19 Volvo buses and 100 HVAC buses, ensuring comfortable travel options for passengers. Furthermore, this expansion will be rounded with the addition of 100 ordinary buses under the KM Scheme, bringing the total of new PUNBUS vehicles to 606.”MSID:: 130210314 413 |
