PRTC not to ply MC buses, passengers left in the lurch

Ravi Chandel

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 23

As the PRTC employees action committee team as well as the PRTC authorities have decided not to ply the Municipal Corporation 20 mini-buses and 10 city buses, a large number of commuters have been facing problems for the past two days.

City residents and commuters alleged that despite given so many assurances during the elections by Captain Amarinder Singh to remove the monopoly of the private bus operators in the city, the state government has failed to end it.

Harbhajan Maan, a resident of Bhucho Kanchian, said, “It is unfortunate on the part of the administration that they are least bothered about the inconvenience faced by residents.”

Besides, as the PRTC has halted its mini-bus service, residents are facing problems in sending their children and elders in buses.

Rather than ignoring or delaying the issues, the government should immediately resolve the matter of shortage of buses in the city, he added.

Harvinder Kaur, a resident of Jodhpur Romana, said, “We were already facing a shortage of buses and now, when the PRTC has decided not to ply the mini-buses, it has become too difficult for us to reach offices, colleges and other destinations on time.”

The state government has to take strict action rather than playing as a mute spectator, she added.

Surender Singh, general manager, PRTC, said, “We have already wasted a lot of money and energy on the regularisation of the Municipal Corporation’s 30 buses, but instead of getting appreciation from the state government, we are facing criticism.”

“The PRTC higher authorities have decided not to ply the MC buses in the city. We are not in the position to tackle the loss anymore,” he added.

On being asked about the return of MC buses, Singh said, “Many a time, we have sent notices to the MC Commissioner to take their buses back. But they refuse to respond to our applications.”

MC Commissioner Sanyam Aggarwal said, “Due to financial constraints, we are not in a condition to run the 20 mini-buses and 10 city buses in the city. When things get better, we will take them back from the PRTC. We have an agreement with the PRTC regarding the plying of buses.”