SIT to probe collusion between govt officials & transport mafia: Raja Warring

Chandigarh, November 10

The Punjab Government will constitute a special investigation team (SIT) to probe an estimated loss of Rs 6,600 crore incurred by the Transport Department in the past over 14 years due to the alleged collusion between government officials and the transport mafia.

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The period includes 10 years of the SAD-BJP government and over four years of Capt Amarinder Singh’s tenure as the CM.

Speaking at a press briefing, Transport Minister Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said the department was preparing a report on the losses incurred by the state roadways due to illegal extension of permits to private bus operators. The report will be forwarded to CM Charanjit Singh Channi and Home Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa for further action.

Warring alleged, “The state witnessed sheer loot of its resources during the 10-year rule of the SAD-BJP and over four-year tenure of Capt Amarinder. The loss suffered by the Transport Department for this period is around Rs 5,200 crore.” He said since the cancellation of 680 illegally extended permits last month, the department had been earning Rs 42 lakh profit every day. The state thus lost another Rs 1,380 crore since 2012, when the Punjab and Haryana High Court had struck down the illegal permits. “The total amount of nearly Rs 6,600 crore could have made a huge difference. Over 24,000 new buses could have been procured, employing nearly 50,000 new staff,” he said.

Warring claimed the Transport Dept earned Rs104.31 crore in October. Revenue of the PRTC and Punjab Roadways increased to Rs55 crore and Rs50 crore in October.

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