Free bus travel scheme for women bleeds PRTC
The much-hyped free travel scheme for women is bleeding the state-run Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) with over Rs 380-crore subsidy amount still pending with the state government.
The free travel for women in government buses, started by the previous Congress government, costs the government almost Rs 1 crore daily, which it has to reimburse to the PRTC.
Govt owes it over Rs 380 crore
The government owes over Rs 380 crore to the PRTC in lieu of free travel allowed to women
Due to the delay in clearing dues, the corporation is struggling to release salary and pension
PRTC officials say they have written to the government several times to clear all dues, but to no avail so far
As per rules, the government has to clear the dues every month
A senior official of the corporation said they had written to the Finance Department for the release of the subsidy dues. “We got around Rs 100 crore earlier this year, but the expenditure on free travel is around Rs 1 crore per day and the pending subsidy has now crossed Rs 380 crore,” he added.
The delay in subsidy release had affected repair of the vehicles and disbursement of salary and pension to the beneficiaries, he added.
“The seats in buses need immediate repairs. Given the financial condition, we have no option but to continue,” said a PRTC conductor.
The state has over 1.31 crore women and girls as per the 2011 Census. The total population is 2.77 crore. Presenting the Budget for the 2024-25, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema announced to continue the free bus travel for women. “An allocation of Rs 450 crore has been provided in the current fiscal for continuing the service,” Cheema said while presenting the Budget.
All efforts to contact PRTC Chairman Ranjodh Singh Hadana turned futile. A senior PRTC official, however, said they had sent bills to the government and were hopeful that the arrears would be cleared soon.
Earlier, the state government had claimed that it had spent Rs 1,548.25 crore on ensuring free travel for women on Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC buses.
