Why Punjab's public transport is on the highway to hell

Punjab was once a prosperous state for the common man. But that does not seem to be the case today. Not only have the crops failed farmers but there are no jobs for the urban youth, many of whom are now indulging in unlawful activities like drug smuggling etc. The craze to go abroad too has also ensured that many of them are now subject to exploitation by illegal travel agents.

However, such a state of affairs have not been addressed adequately by the government. Social security pensions have not been revised for the last decade and even the pension amount for the elderly – Rs 250 per person – has also not been paid for the last five to six months at least. This is in stark contrast to neighbouring Haryana, which is paying a monthly pension of Rs 1,200 per person, while the other neighbouring state – Himachal Pradesh – is paying Rs 550 per person, over double the amount that one gets in Punjab.

Pensions are not the only problem. The public transport system – a lifeline for many people who are living in the rural parts of the state – has been ruined. What’s worse is that there’s no money to fix it. The financial condition of Punjab’s two transport corporations – Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) and Punjab roadways has worsened. The PRTC alone incurred a net loss of Rs 4,900.34 lakhs last year which is Rs 2,178 kakhs. This is higher than the net loss made during 2013.

Being unable to pay the salaries and pensions of the employees, the PRTC has now put its properties on sale. The transport corporation employees have accused the state government of favouring private bus operators, with the result that they are not being paid.

The Badals own a lion’s share in Punjab’s private bus transport business but they alone are not to blame for the plight of state’s dying public transport system. A sizeable chunk of the state’s private bus business are owned by politicians from different political parties. Statistics show that out of nearly 7,500 buses in Punjab today, around 5,000 are owned by private transporters, and more than 60 per cent of these private buses are owned by politicians. The Badals' transport companies ie Orbit Aviation (P) Ltd, Taj Transport Company and Dabwali Transport Company Ltd own 230 buses. It isn’t just the government alone. Congress leaders too are making money out of the transport business. Former cabinet minister Avtar Henry owns Kartar Bus Service, which owns 80 buses, while former revenue minister Amarjit Singh Samra and his family members own 57 buses. The fact that there is no check on political leaders, worsens the situation.

This state of affairs may now be changing. Post the Moga bus molestation case – where a teenage girl died after being allegedly thrown off the bus, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notices to the state’s chief secretary, the DGP Police and transport commissioner, demanding details on the buses owned by state and private transporters. What remains to be seen is whether the move will lead to a cleanup and enable the state transport system to work transparently and effectively. That is the need of the hour.