JALANDHAR /CHANDI GARH
Displaying Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government's commitment to road safety and adherence to regulations, Punjab Transport Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar on Monday conducted checking in and around Jalandhar. The Minister's action resulted in the impoundment of two buses operating without valid documentation, while the challans were issued to 21 buses for various infractions, including two government buses for plying on unscheduled routes.
During the checking around the Jalandhar Bus Stand, at Kishangarh on Jalandhar-Pathankot road and Kartarpur on Jalandhar-Amritsar road, a total of 56 buses were checked by the Cabinet Minister and his team for ensuring the safety and compliance of buses on the state's roads.
Among the standout violations that were addressed, the bus having registration number NL-02B 3020 operated by Vijay Bus Service, was challened a substantial fine of Rs.50,000 for operating without the necessary permissions of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA). Another bus, bearing registration number UP-31T 3737 and operated by Khaira Sleepers, was also challened of Rs.50,000 due to over-capacity of passengers. Apart from this, the bus number PB-01C 9726 of Indo-Canadian Service was fined Rs.10,000 for operating in violation of permit rules.
Besides this, challans of over Rs.2 lacs were served to 18 private buses for violating traffic regulations, which included three buses of Kartar bus, two each of Patiala Express and Patiala Highways and one each of Nijjar Mini Bus, Parkash Bus, Libra Bus, Sekhupura Bus Service, Narwal Bus, Bai Ji Transport and Rajguru, while two buses of Pyar Bus and Kartar Bus Service, sans proper documents, were impounded on the spot.
While checking at the Kartapur, the Transport Minister also noticed two Punjab Roadways buses (having registration numbers PB-08-EC 4529 and PB-65-AT 0543) passing over the bridge instead of crossing the scheduled beneath-route. Both the drivers of these buses were challaned for plying on unscheduled routes.
Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar affirmed his commitment to preventing any bus without proper documentation and permits from endangering the safety of passengers and other road users, adding that surprise checking would be conducted with increased frequency in the future. He also directed officials to issue challans and impound any buses found to be in violation of the set norms.
Bhullar, while sending a strong message that the state government remains steadfast in its resolve to ensure the safety and compliance of all buses operating on the state's roads, said that the enforcement of regulations is paramount to safeguarding the well-being of the public and maintaining order on the roads.