The Punjab Governments plan to operate over 200 new buses in the state has failed to take off. Only two persons have evinced interest in operating the buses, though the government has floated tenders twice.
The state-run Pepsu Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC) had decided to operate buses on 219 routes, under the kilometre scheme, and its tenders were initially floated in July. However, only two operators evinced interest in operating the buses. As a result, the tender for running 217 buses was again floated in September last year. It found no takers.
This has caused the to analyse the reasons for the lack of interest in the scheme, where buses are to be leased from private parties and operated by the state government. It is learnt that the reason is the free bus rides allowed to Women passengers, which has made public transportation in the state economically unviable. The women passengers were allowed free travel on government-run buses by the previous Congress government.