PATIALA, April 6 — Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday initiated a major expansion of the state’s public transport sector by flagging off 250 new buses for the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) fleet. The move is part of a broader strategy to bridge historical infrastructure gaps while simultaneously driving economic growth and employment in the region.
The addition of these vehicles marks the beginning of a phased rollout. According to the Chief Minister, an additional 254 ordinary buses and 100 mini buses are scheduled to join the fleet by the end of May 2026. Furthermore, the state has already initiated the tender process for another 309 buses to ensure comprehensive coverage across both urban and rural routes.
“Today in Patiala, 250 new buses were flagged off and added to the PRTC fleet,” Chief Minister Mann stated during the event. “This is not merely an improvement in transport facilities, but a significant step towards providing people with better, safer, and more comfortable travel.”
The financial health of the PRTC has shown a notable turnaround. Gross revenue increased from ₹607.09 crore in the 2021–22 fiscal year to ₹927.83 crore in 2024–25. Projections for the current financial year suggest revenue will surpass ₹950 crore, representing a 57 percent growth since 2022. This financial stability has been maintained even as the state continues to provide free travel to women, who have accounted for 34.63 crore rides since the policy’s inception.
The Chief Minister affirmed that the fleet expansion is also a vehicle for job creation. The current and upcoming bus inductions are expected to generate employment for over 650 individuals, adding to the hundreds of positions already created through previous fleet increases in 2024.
“The government is consistently making such efforts to enhance public convenience and move Punjab forward on the path of progress,” Mann maintained.
