CHANDIGARH – The number of private buses plying on Punjab roads is much more than the valid route permits issued in the state. About 50 transporters, mostly from political heavyweight families or their associates, have been issued up to 40 per cent of the 2,885 route permits. Around 900 other transporters share the remaining around 60 per cent permits.
Official documents about route permits reveal that the companies associated directly with top Akali leaders have a clear monopoly on important routes, especially in Bathinda, Patiala, Muktsar and their surrounding areas. In these areas, these companies hold around 100-150 permits, which is more than 50 per cent of the route permits allotted in a given district. Other transporters are running their business with one or two route permits only.
A number of Congress leaders, apart from neutral private transporters, who remain on the right side of the government of any political party, enjoy monopoly in Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar districts. The state government has been shying away from making this data public as it shows the monopoly of a few private transporters.
The state told the High Court on May 16 that 3,543 private buses ply in the state. Documents in the possession of The Tribune show that 2,885 route permits have been issued in the state. It means 658 more buses are plying in the state than the total number of route permits issued. This gives weight to the allegation of private transporters opposing the monopoly of a few families that two or more buses ply illegally on a single permit. Additional State Transport Commissioner Harmel Singh said the bus companies were allowed to have extra buses up to 10 per cent of the fleet or the permits. By that calculation, only around 300 extra private buses can exist on state roads.
Route permit sheets carry names of 30 to 40 private transporters on one sheet, but when the permit numbers of private transporters linked with the Badals begin, only one name features on one full sheet or even on two, in certain cases. The prime example is that of Bathinda and Muktsar districts. In Bathinda, the total number of permits issued is 295 (starting from serial number 464 to 759). Of these permits, 144 are in the name of three companies of the Badal family—Orbit Aviation, Taj Travels and Dabwali Transport. The route permit numbers are 464 to 608. The remaining 151 permits are issued in the names of about 65 private transporters. In Muktsar, 147 bus permits have been issued. Of these, 76 are issued in the name of New Deep Bus Service and New Deep Motors, both owned by a prominent Akali leader of Gidderbaha in the district.
