Did Roadways discontinue service to benefit pvt player?

Times of India: Jalandhar: Thursday, August 20, 2015.

Information procured under the RTI Act from Punjab Roadways has revealed that buses operating between Jalandhar ISBT and Delhi airport were giving profit of Rs 25 lakh per month when the service of these buses between Delhi ISBT and airport was discontinued in August 2012.

However, Punjab Roadways had also claimed that it was unable to recover the parking fee of Rs 4,500 per day per bus at the airport from passengers. Advocate H C Arora, who had applied for the information, said that it was apparent from the documents that proposal to hike the fare was never discussed. It may be mentioned here that after the Punjab Roadways stopped operating, the route became a monopoly of Indo Candian Bus Service and it raised the fare by more than double. However, after the Orbit bus incident when the issue again come under the scanner, the bus service was silently revived in June last without any publicity.

A copy of the letter dated May 12, 2015 by general manager, Punjab Roadways, Jalandhar-1 to the director, state transport, Punjab, said the bus service of Punjab Roadways from Jalandhar to Delhi airport was continued from June, 2010 to August, 2012 . "The fleet comprised 6 super integral buses, one HVAC and these vehicles were earning profit of Rs 25 lakh," it said.

"From perusal of records, it comes out that these buses were discontinued for the reason that each such vehicle had to pay parking fee of Rs 4,500 at the airport whereas number of passengers from Delhi bus stand to Delhi airport was quite less," the letter said, adding, "the then GM had after getting order from the director, state transport, discontinued the aforesaid service from Delhi bus stand to Delhi airport". Copy of another document had a noting by the traffic manager, Punjab Roadways, Jalandhar-1, recommending discontinuation of the service of Punjab Roadways from Jalandhar to Delhi airport.

When contacted by TOI, Punjab Roadways GM H S Minhas said that the figure of Rs 25 lakhs was for one month. He claimed that this amount was for the entire service from Jalandhgar to Delhi while the loss for parking fee was computed between Delhi ISBT to airport. He said that service between Jalandhar bus stand and Delhi ISBT was continuing.

However, sources in Punjab Roadways revealed that by stopping the service, the Roadways completely lost the passengers to airport to a private operator, which was charging over Rs 1,600 and 2,300.