PRTC Adds 250 New Buses To Strengthen Punjab Transport Network

The Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC) has expanded its fleet with 250 new buses in April 2026 to improve public transport services across Punjab. The move is aimed at addressing a major service gap that earlier resulted in nearly 44,500 kilometres of daily missed operations. Officials confirmed that around 33,000 kilometres of this gap has already been recovered with the deployment of the new buses.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann flagged off the new fleet on April 6, raising the sanctioned strength of PRTC buses to 1,351. However, the operational fleet currently stands at 1,251 buses, as nearly 100 buses are yet to be deployed. While revenue gains remain modest for now, authorities expect a sharper rise once full deployment is completed after the wheat harvesting season.

PRTC Bus Expansion Improves Route Coverage In Punjab

The PRTC bus expansion has significantly improved service coverage across several high-demand corridors. On the Ludhiana–Malerkotla–Patiala route, 20 new buses have been introduced to fill all allocated time slots, ensuring smoother and more frequent services.

Recovery of missed time slots on key routes

On the Malerkotla–Patiala route, all previously missed 37 time slots have now been restored, improving reliability for daily commuters.

Better connectivity for students and daily passengers

The improved frequency has particularly benefited students and office-goers who depend on intercity travel during peak morning and evening hours.

PRTC Strengthens Monopoly And Intercity Routes

The new buses have also been deployed across major monopoly and intercity routes including Patiala–Patran, Patiala–Pehowa, Patiala–Samana, Patiala–Rajpura, and Patiala–Ambala Cantonment.

Redistribution of older buses for local routes

Older buses have been shifted to shorter routes such as Patiala–Nabha and Patiala–Samana to maintain balanced service operations.

Expansion on major intercity corridors

Key routes like Patiala–Jalandhar–Amritsar, Sangrur–Ludhiana, Bathinda–Patiala, and Patiala–Abohar have also received upgraded services.

PRTC Revenue Growth And Operational Impact

PRTC’s daily revenue stood at ₹2.47 crore in March 2026, which has increased slightly to ₹2.48 crore after partial deployment of the new fleet. Officials expect stronger financial growth once all 250 buses are fully operational.

Revenue expected to rise after full deployment

With 100 buses still awaiting route allocation, revenue is expected to increase once operations stabilise after seasonal constraints.

Improved kilometre coverage across Punjab

The expansion has already helped recover a large portion of previously unserved daily kilometres, improving overall efficiency.

PRTC Future Fleet Expansion Plans

PRTC chairman Harpal Juneja stated that further expansion is already planned. The corporation is preparing to induct 309 standard buses and 100 mini-buses in the coming months to strengthen service capacity further.

Focus on eliminating remaining route gaps

The next phase aims to eliminate all missing routes and improve service consistency across Punjab.

Long-term goal of network optimisation

PRTC plans to optimise both intercity and rural connectivity through better fleet distribution and scheduling.

Conclusion

The addition of 250 new buses marks a major step in strengthening Punjab’s public transport system. With improved route coverage, partial recovery of lost kilometres, and better intercity connectivity, PRTC is working towards a more efficient network. However, full benefits will be visible once all buses are deployed and future expansions are completed.