Chandigarh, August 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Transport Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday announced that 100 new ‘PRTC Junior’ buses will be added to the PRTC fleet by mid-September, with the move aimed at improving public transport connectivity in rural areas of the state.
The announcement came during a review meeting with senior officials of the Transport Department, where Cheema assessed ongoing infrastructure upgrades and plans to expand bus services. He said the fully built midi buses were being manufactured and supplied by Eicher.
Cheema directed officials to explore innovative measures to improve the quality of public transport while simultaneously strengthening the revenue base of the PEPSU Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) and PUNBUS to ensure their long-term financial sustainability.
The minister said the state government was adding 1,279 buses to its government fleet, taking the total number from 2,267 to 3,546. He described it as the largest expansion of Punjab’s government bus fleet in two decades.
Cheema said the government was also focusing on better connectivity for NRIs, international travellers and regular commuters. He highlighted the introduction of 15 premium airport buses, including Volvo services from Jalandhar and Ludhiana to Delhi Airport.
According to Cheema, the airport services were intended to make travel more convenient while reducing the dependence of passengers on private transport operators.
He said the expansion of the government fleet would improve connectivity and public service delivery across Punjab, particularly in areas where rural transport services need strengthening.
The meeting was attended by Transport Secretary Varun Roojam, PUNBUS Managing Director Rajiv Kumar Gupta, PRTC Managing Director Manisha Rana, Additional Managing Director PRTC Navdeep Kumar and General Manager PRTC, Chandigarh, Amanvir Tiwana.
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