Patiala, October 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday flagged off 100 new 29-seater mini buses in Patiala, reaffirming his government’s commitment to strengthening rural connectivity and ensuring that villages across the state are better connected with towns and cities. He also announced that another 309 full-size buses would be added to the transport fleet next month.
Emphasising the importance of public transport for rural communities, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the new mini buses would make daily travel easier for villagers, workers and students while improving access to education, employment, markets and essential services.
“Just as we have ensured that canal water reaches every field, we will ensure that buses reach every village in Punjab. The benefits of development must reach every household, irrespective of whether people live in big cities, small towns or remote villages,” the Chief Minister said.
Taking a swipe at previous governments for discontinuing bus services connecting villages with cities, he said his government was determined to reverse the trend and strengthen transport facilities in rural areas.
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“Public transport is not merely a means of travelling from one place to another; it is a lifeline for rural communities. Reliable bus services enable students to pursue education, help families access employment opportunities and strengthen the economic and social fabric of villages,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the 100 new mini buses would operate on rural and small-town routes through nine depots of the Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC). The services are expected to benefit rural residents travelling to cities for work, business, education and other essential activities.
The buses have been allocated across nine depots: Patiala, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Sangrur, Barnala, Budhlada, Kapurthala, Faridkot and Ludhiana.
According to the depot-wise allocation, Patiala will receive 25 buses, Bathinda and Chandigarh 15 each, Sangrur 10, Barnala nine, Budhlada eight, Kapurthala seven, Faridkot six and Ludhiana five.
Taking to X, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Strengthening Punjab’s transport infrastructure, today we added 100 new mini buses to the PRTC fleet in Patiala. These buses will specifically connect our villages with cities, making travel more convenient for rural residents. We also handed over offer letters to 15 young people for jobs in the department. To further improve public transport services, another 309 new full-size buses will be added to the fleet next month.”
Highlighting the employment opportunities associated with the expansion, the Chief Minister said the induction of the new mini buses would create jobs for approximately 150 drivers and conductors. He also said offer letters had been handed over to 15 young people for positions in the transport department.
“Our government is committed to combining public welfare with job creation so that investments in public infrastructure also create livelihood opportunities,” he said.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said improved rural connectivity was essential for strengthening Punjab’s rural economy, helping people reach workplaces, enabling students to attend educational institutions more conveniently and allowing residents to access markets and essential services.
“Development cannot be measured merely by the infrastructure built in big cities. It must also be measured by the opportunities, convenience and dignity it brings to ordinary people living in villages. Our aim is to build a Punjab where geographical distance does not become a barrier to education, employment or progress,” he said.
The Chief Minister added that around 3,000 privately operated mini buses were already connecting villages, towns and cities across Punjab. He said the government would continue expanding and improving the public transport network to make travel more accessible.
Congratulating the people on the occasion, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterated that the state government would continue working to strengthen public transport and ensure that villages remained connected to Punjab’s development.
Among those present at the flag-off ceremony were Punjab Finance and Transport Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, Aam Aadmi Party state general secretary and media in-charge Baltej Singh Pannu, PRTC Chairman Advocate Harpal Juneja, Mandi Board Chairman Harchand Singh Barsat, MLA Ajitpal Singh Kohli, former minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, actor Binnu Dhillon, Municipal Corporation Mayor Kundan Gogia, Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal, SSP Harmandeep Hans and PRTC Managing Director Manisha Rana.
Others present included PRTC Vice Chairman Balwinder Singh Jharwan, AMD Navdeep Kumar, District Planning Committee Chairman Tejinder Mehta, AAP Rural District President Harpal Singh Virk, Urban District President Navaldeep Singh, Deputy Mayor Jagdeep Singh Jagga, Punjab Agro Chairman Baljinder Singh Dhillon, ADC Damanjit Singh Mann and District Media In-charge Ravinder Pal Singh Prince Lamba, along with PRTC board members and other party leaders and officials.
PRTC Chairman Advocate Harpal Juneja thanked Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for flagging off the 100 new mini buses. He said that, following the Chief Minister’s directions and under the leadership of Transport Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, PRTC would continue working to provide quality transport facilities to the people of Punjab.
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