Huge Jump in Revenue: Ending Transport Mafia in Punjab

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Last Updated: 11 June 2025

42% jump in Revenue in first 10 months of AAP Govt of Punjab Roadways (& PRTC) [1]
-- ₹1,247.22 crore in April-Dec 2022 from ₹879.55 crore in April-Dec 2021

Punjab cancels 600 illegally-clubbed bus permits in Sept 2024, 30% linked to Sukhbir Badal (ex Deputy CM, Punjab)[2]
-- 700+ stage carriage permits have been ordered to be de-clubbed in June 2025[3]
-- Earlier discontinued the erroneously extended nearly 138 bus permits in 2023[4]

Revenue

Year Income
2022-23 ₹4,139.59 crore[5]
2021-22 ₹3,478.08 crore[5:1]

REFORMS

1. Punjab-Delhi Airport route[6]

Started Volvo Bus Service to Delhi Airport
-- Running 19 buses as on 15 June 2022[4:1]
-- Revenue Rs. 42.32 Cr earned by Govt from 15.06.2022 to 15.10.2023 on Punjab-Delhi Airport route

Private Monopoly Broken: Indo-Canadian (SAD president Badal owned) buses were run & passengers were fleeced money
-- Forced to slash its fare by 30%-45%
-- Additionally started providing refreshment & among other facilities to passengers[7]

  • Fare charged by PUNBUS/PRTC at present is ~Rs 1160/- per passenger

2. Breaking Political Mafia in Illegal routes

Govt AC buses have been started from Chandigarh to district headquarters to and fro[4:2]

Process for cancellation of Illegal Private routes is ON

-- Punjab cancels 600 illegally-clubbed bus permits in Sept 2024, 30% linked to Sukhbir Badal (ex Deputy CM, Punjab)[2:1]
-- 700+ stage carriage permits have been ordered to be de-clubbed in June 2025[3:1]
-- Earlier discontinued the erroneously extended nearly 138 bus permits in 2023[4:3]

Illegal routes of Mafia[6:1]

  • Private AC bus permits From District Headquarters to Chandigarh awarded under Scheme 1997
  • Punjab HC on 21.10.2003 struck down this Scheme & Govt instead continued appeals agaisnt the order in Higher courts and it is still stuck in Court proceedings

Multiple illegal extension of Bus Routes[6:2]

  • Only 1 extensions of 24 kms in the permits allowed
  • But multiple permits with many more extensions were given under influence of Political Mafia

3. New Mini Bus Routes

4. Checking Leakages

Minister's flying squad[8]

  • 5 months: Reported 119 cases of ticket & diesel theft, plying of buses on unscheduled routes and mobile usage
  • Disciplinary action has been taken against the reported drivers and conductors in all these cases

References:

  1. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/punjab-roadways-prtc-income-rose-by-42-in-10-months-transport-minister-101673896601344.html ↩︎

  2. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/punjab-transport-minister-laljit-singh-bhullar-illegal-clubbed-bus-permits-cancellation-2603530-2024-09-20 ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/transport-dept-cracks-down-on-clubbing-of-bus-permits/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  4. https://www.babushahi.com/full-news.php?id=173664 ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  5. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/punjab-transport-department-records-rs-661-51-cr-hike-in-income-during-fy22-23-minister-bhullar-101680637856232.html ↩︎ ↩︎

  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV96oX8CN_U ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  7. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jalandhar/punjab-governments-volvo-buses-to-delhi-airport-see-good-response-409066 ↩︎

  8. https://www.babushahi.com/full-news.php?id=173249 ↩︎

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