Amid the continuing induction of 200 new buses below the kilometre scheme, fierce opposition has erupted from employees of the Pepsu Highway Transport Company (PRTC). In a letter submitted to chief minister Bhagwant Mann and senior transport officers on Might 7, employees, below the banner of the Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and PRTC contractual employees union alleged that the kilometre scheme has develop into a instrument for corruption, siphoning off public funds and systematically weakening the state’s personal transport community.
Below the scheme, personal operators are paid based mostly on kilometres lined on government-issued permits. (HT File)
The Kilometre Scheme, below which personal bus operators are paid, based mostly on the variety of kilometres lined on the government-issued permits, has lengthy drawn criticism from workers and activists.
The scheme launched as a public-private partnership mannequin to ease the monetary burden of increasing the state-run bus fleet, permits PRTC to ask personal bus house owners to run their automobiles on government-assigned routes. The scheme eliminates the necessity for the federal government to put money into buying new buses.
Below this mannequin, the personal operator supplies the automobile, hires the motive force, and bears all upkeep and gas prices. PRTC, in flip, deploys its personal conductors and handles route scheduling.
The transport division pays the operator a set price per kilometre, often ranging between ₹9 to ₹10.5 relying on the bus kind and yr of settlement. A bus masking 15,000 km in a month may earn its proprietor practically ₹1.5 lakh.
Nonetheless, union leaders argue that the scheme is neither cost-effective nor employment-friendly in the long run.
Shamsher Singh Dhillon, state normal secretary of the union, stated, “The scheme was introduced with the claim of creating jobs for unemployed youth. But how can a jobless person afford to invest ₹15–20 lakh in buying a bus? Also, the drivers are hired by private operators, and there is no regulatory check on their skill or conduct, unlike government-hired drivers. In case of mishaps, it is the PRTC’s credibility that suffers.”
Rising prices, no lasting positive factors
In response to the union, a non-public bus operating 10,000 km a month below this scheme, earns round ₹93,500, whereas one masking 15,000 km earns upwards of ₹1.4 lakh. Over six years, a single personal bus may value the transport division near ₹1 crore, with out contributing to the creation of a public asset.
“In contrast,” the union famous, “a government-owned bus costs around ₹30 lakh and remains in service for up to 15 years, while generating employment for drivers, conductors, and maintenance staff.”
“This is not about efficiency or economy. It’s about siphoning public money in the name of convenience while sidelining our own workforce,” a senior union member added.
Union warns agitation
The union has issued a warning that if Kilometre Scheme buses are inducted once more, they are going to launch a full-scale agitation. “No private bus under this scheme will be allowed to ply on government routes. The administration will be held responsible for any disruption in public transport,” the union declared.
Acknowledging the continuing induction, PRTC chairman Ranjodh Singh Hadana stated, “We floated the tender for 200 new buses under the Kilometre Scheme at the end of February. So far, PRTC has received around 80 buses.” He additional added that the remaining 120 buses are anticipated to be inducted quickly.
Nonetheless, when requested concerning the allegations of corruption and malpractice below the scheme, he refused to remark.