Punjab adds another 14 AC buses to its state fleet

Ludhiana, Nov 17 (UNI) In order to provide more comfort to passengers at affordable rates, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today flagged off 10 AC buses of PUNBUS and 4 of Pepsu Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC).

Addressing a public gathering after the flagging off ceremony at the Bus Terminal here, Mr Badal said that now with the introduction of these AC buses even a common man could also travel comfortably by just paying 10 per cent more than the normal fare.

He asked the transport department to add more such buses so that maximum passengers could travel in these buses. He said that SAD-BJP government was committed to provide comfortable traveling facilities to the poor and middle class passengers.

He said that these buses would have heating ventilation and air conditioning. He expressed satisfaction over the considerable improvement in the financial position of both Punjab Roadways and PRTC and for this he appreciated the Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal and hoped that soon both these state transport undertakings would become one of the most efficient and profit generating organisations.

Speaking on the occasion, Master Mohan Lal said that the state transport had added 730 ordinary buses and 10 integral AC buses during last two years and it would soon add another 100 ordinary AC buses to its existing fleet. He also mentioned that 689 old buses would be replaced by new ones by the end of this fiscal year.

He said that PUNBUS had contributed Rs 35 crore during 2006-07 and Rs 50 crore durng 2007-08 to the state exchequer. The operating profit of PRTC during 2007-08 had increased to Rs 9.48 crore from Rs 7.45 crore over the last corresponding year.

He said that the new AC buses had been started on the routes from Chandigarh to Amritsar, Ferozepur, Pathankot, Katra, Ludhiana and Bathinda. Likewise these AC buses would also run on Bathinda-Amritsar, Patiala-Amirtsar and Patiala-Chandigarh routes.

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