Orbit bus staff ‘stop’ govt Volvo from picking up passengers; plaint filed

On Tuesday morning, the staff of Orbit Transport misbehaved with our staff and did not allow them to ferry passengers from the counter as per the time table. We have lodged a police complaint.

JAGDISH SINGH, Muktsar GM, Punjab Roadways

We are shocked at the complaint. Nothing like this happended. Our staff only asked for documents from the roadways staff on the adjustment of time table.

TEJINDER SINGH MAHASA, Managar, for Bathinda, Orbit transport

A day after Gidderbaha MLA Amrinder Singh Raja Warring flagged off a daily Volvo bus service of the Punjab Roadways on the Malout Chandigarh route, employees of Orbit Aviation Transport Limited, owned by the family of former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, allegedly stopped it from picking up passengers from the Bathinda bus stand, around dawn, on Tuesday. After departing from Malout at 3.55am, the bus ferries was to ferry passengers from the Bathinda counter at 4.50am.

Punjab Roadways, Muktsar, GM, Jagdish Singh, has lodged a complaint with the Bathinda Police, seeking that they be allowed to function normally from Wednesday onwards.

“We have informed senior officials in Chandigarh and launched a police complaint. The service was launched on Monday. On Tuesday morning, the staff of Orbit Transport misbehaved with our staff and created hurdle while ferrying passengers from the counter as per the time table,” the GM added. The fare of Volvo bus is ₹2.34 per km, which is double the normal ticket rate.

When contacted, Bathinda SSP Nanak Singh said, “We have received a complaint on Tuesday and are registering an FIR.” He refrained from giving further details regarding the case.

Orbit Bathinda manager Tejinder Singh Mahasa said, “We are shocked at the complaint; nothing like this happened. Our staff only asked for documents from the roadways staff on the adjustment of time table. We are working since long and we don’t indulge in such tactics.”

Gidderbaha MLA Raja Warring said, “We have managed to get a government bus on this route after much hard work. It is unfortunate that the Orbit staff is indulging in such practices, even as its owners have remained in power for 10 years. I have informed transport minister Aruna Chaudhary of the issue.”