Government bus service to IGI airport hit Delhi roadblock

JALANDHAR: The air-conditioned luxury buses of the Punjab Roadways and the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) operating between Jalandhar and Delhi Airport have hit a roadblock with Delhi government’s transport department challaning five time in the past few days. On the other hand, private players are operating between the two destinations without any problems. The government-run buses had become popular among Punjabi NRIs for their lower fares compared to private operator.
The state service on the route was started with much fanfare by the Punjab Roadways in November 2006, during the previous term of Captain Amarinder Singh-led Congress government. He was stopped in 2012 and resumed silently in 2015 after then Badal government faced flak from political parties for alleged conflict of interest. Opposition had claimed that Indo Canadian Transport Company, said to be co-owned by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and his associates, was enjoying monopoly on this route.

The service, however, really took off recently and now daily 15 buses of the two state-run transporters covering the route. Sources in the Punjab transport department said that monthly revenue was above Rs 1 crore. The Punjab Roadways and PRTC buses charging much less than private buses.

When contacted, Punjab transport commissioner Dilraj Singh Sandhwalia said that he spoke to Delhi special commissioner for transport. “Delhi officials are citing some Supreme Court judgment to justify their action but we have not yet provided any copy of that. Punjab Roadways officers have also been sent to sort out the issue,” he said.

Responding to a query, he admitted that while Punjab Roadways and PRTC buses were on stage carriage permits, some private buses on the route were operating on tourist permits.

Delhi’s deputy commissioner transport (enforcement) Rajesh Rana said that buses with stage carriage permits could pick up passengers from inter-state bus terminus only. “Someone had complained about these (Punjab government) buses,” he said.

However, asked about private buses operating regularly from Delhi airport to Punjab, he said, “These might be operating clandestinely. We have not given permission to any bus for operating from airport.” Asked if private tourist buses could operate from the airport daily, he said that only transport commissioner could answer that.

When contacted, Delhi’s special commissioner transport K K Dahiya said that questions should be sent to him through text. However, he did not respond to the queries or calls thereafter.