PRTC to add 120 new buses to its fleet to boost connectivity
The Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) will add 120 new buses into its fleet in the current financial year.
These buses comprise 100 selffinanced vehicles and 20 air-conditioned buses on km scheme.
PRTC managing director Manjit Singh Narang said with the addition of these buses, the PRTC will be able to replace all its old buses, which have lived off their lives. “The corporation is wasting money in repairing and maintaining old buses. Therefore, the addition of new buses is a win-win situation for PRTC, as it would save its money and provide better transport facilities,” Narang said.
He added that Rs 10 crore will be spent on the purchase and fabrication of self-financed buses.
“The tenders were invited and a technical bid was opened last week for the purchase of chassis,” he said.
Narang said the corporation is adding 20 air-conditioned buses on km scheme from September onwards.
KM SCHEME FINANCIALLY VIABLE
A PRTC official said under the km scheme, the running cost of a bus is estimated to be around Rs 6.68 per km, while in self-financed buses, the expenses are pegged at Rs 7.80 per km.
“In km scheme, the entire responsibility of operating the buses is of the private transporter, as the corporation has to give only the running cost. Even the insurance and security expenses are borne by the transporters,” an official said.
Notably, the introduction of the km scheme has drawn opposition employees’ unions, which term it as a tactics to promote privatisation in the state transport system.
With the addition of these buses, the PRTC will be able to replace all its old buses, which have lived off their lives. MANJIT SINGH NARANG, managing director, PRTC
PRTC RUNNING FULL FLEET OF 1,073 BUSES
For the first time in the past one decade, the PRTC is running its full fleet of 1,073 buses under its nine depots – Ludhiana, Kapurthala, Chandigarh, Patiala, Bathinda, Budhlada, Barnala, Faridkot and Sangrur.
Last year, the PRTC added to its fleet 250 buses, including 100 owned and run by the PRTC. The remaining 150 buses are run under the km scheme.
Narang said, “The new buses in the PRTC fleet are fitted with global positioning system (GPS) to track their location, close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, public information system for convenience of passengers and fuel-monitoring system to keep tabs on wastage and pilferage of diesel.”