CHANDIGARH, MAY 20 — The state government has decided to waive travel fares for all students commuting on Punjab Roadways buses to reach their respective examination centers for the upcoming NEET UG re-examination scheduled for June 21.
The transport concession will remain active across a three-day window, spanning June 20, 21, and 22, to accommodate students traveling ahead of and returning from the national medical entrance test. Candidates can access the free transit service by presenting their official examination admit cards to bus conductors in lieu of purchasing a standard ticket.
“Many poor students take the NEET exam and they do not even have the money to pay for the fare to get to the center,” Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann asserted in a public statement detailing the administrative decision. He maintained that the welfare measure was directly prompted by recent feedback from affected candidates who highlighted significant financial constraints and heightened mental stress following the cancellation of the initial test.
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, originally conducted on May 3, was canceled by federal authorities following widespread allegations of institutional irregularities. The subsequent rescheduling created unexpected logistical and financial burdens for thousands of local families, particularly those from economically vulnerable backgrounds.
Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal initiated the policy recommendation following a series of digital interactions with students who voiced concerns regarding anxiety, depression, and travel expenses. Prior to his scheduled arrival in Punjab, Kejriwal affirmed his commitment to addressing these grassroots difficulties, noting that public transit relief would directly alleviate the immediate economic pressure on aspiring medical scholars during the re-examination phase.
