Back on track, PRTC without top brass

Karam Prakash

Patiala, April 17

At a time when Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) has started showing signs of recovery from its poor fiscal heath, it has been left without the top administrative officials to run the affairs.

With the transfer of PRTC’s managing director (MD) on April 12, the top three posts in the organisation are now lying vacant. The posts of additional managing director (ADM) and chairman have also been lying vacant. Sources say the post of chief accounts officer fell vacant after the incumbent attained superannuation last month. The functioning of the PRTC without the top administrative officials is likely to be affected severely, say experts.

The PRTC had for the first time started collecting record daily earnings of over Rs 2 crore recently. One of the general managers (GMs) said: “First the AMD was shifted. PRTC chairman Satinder Singh had already quit following the change of guard in the state. Now, the MD has been shifted out. The routine work is bound to suffer.”

Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said the posts of MD, AMD and chief accounts officer would soon be filled. After having been severely hit by the Covid pandemic, the PRTC had been slowly getting back on track financially. From Rs 1.77 crore in October last year, it had been earning around Rs 2.25 crore daily in April. Officials attributed this turnaround to free travel for women.

It is learnt of the total Rs 2.31 crore daily income, Rs 1.04 crore comes from women passengers. “Due to free travel, women prefer PRTC buses to private ones. As women are usually accompanied by family members, they are helping add to the revenue,” an official said.