PATIALA: Going by the promise made by Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh of providing free bus travel for women, launched from 1st April, Pepsu Road Transport Corporation buses have given the benefit of the scheme to 99045 women passengers in the last two days.
Disclosing this here today, Mr. K K Sharma, Chairman, PRTC said that the women passengers had paid zero fares for the journey of Rs. 41.84 lakh availed during these two days with PRTC buses. He said that all the depot managers, bus drivers, conductors and checkers of PRTC have been asked to ensure the benefits of free bus travel for women introduced by the Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh in principle so that they don't feel any type of harassment at any cost while travelling in PRTC buses.
He said that on April 1, a total of 27589 women passengers and on the second day, April 2, as many as 71456 women passengers availed the benefit of free bus travel scheme. According to Mr Sharma, the main objective of the PRTC is to provide all possible transport facilities to its passengers. Apart from the use of special panic buttons and GPS system in the buses for this purpose, the increase in number of seats for women is also on cards, from 6 to 12.
He said that PRTC has 9 depots in Punjab including Patiala, Bathinda, Kapurthala, Barnala, Budhlada, Chandigarh, Sangrur, Ludhiana and Faridkot. Strict orders have been issued to all these depots from the officials to the field staff that all the passengers, especially the women should be given due respect.
Kuldeep Kaur, a woman traveling from Chandigarh to Bathinda, while took halt at the Patiala bus stand, said that she was happy that the Punjab government, realizing the plight of women, had taken such a big decision. She termed the decision as a very revolutionary and economically beneficial step for women.
Poonam, a resident of Patiala's Urban Estate, who is posted at Naugavan School, says the Punjab government's decision will save her Rs 4, 000 per month on bus fares, which will help her able to meet other household needs.
Government teacher Ms Jeetu, a resident of Raghomajra, termed the free bus service as a real gift from the government to working women like her and said that it has been of great benefit to women.
Jatinder Singh Grewal, General Manager, Patiala Depot and Surinder Singh, GM (Admin) said that necessary arrangements had already been made for the practical benefit of this free bus service being provided to women by the Punjab Government so that women should not face any difficulty while traveling in buses. They also appealed to the women beneficiaries of free bus travel in the buses to keep any proof of residential address of Punjab with them and not forget to get zero value ticket by showing this document when the conductor asks for the ticket.