State fleet to grow 56% to 3,546 buses; new vehicles to feature CCTV, DashCams, GPS and digital ticketing
Chandigarh, July 11
The Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government has announced the biggest expansion of the state’s public transport system in more than two decades, with the addition of 1,279 new government buses that will increase the fleet strength from 2,267 to 3,546 buses, a 56 per cent rise aimed at improving connectivity, commuter safety and public transport accessibility across the state.
Announcing the initiative at a press conference on Saturday, Finance and Transport Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema said the expansion would position Punjab among the leading states in public transport infrastructure while strengthening affordable and reliable bus services. The new fleet will also bring a major technological upgrade, with buses equipped with DashCams, internal CCTV cameras, GPS tracking systems and UPI QR code-based electronic ticketing to enhance passenger safety, operational efficiency and commuter convenience.
Of the 1,279 buses, 796 are being procured directly by the government, including 696 ordinary buses—387 for PUNBUS and 309 for PRTC. Around 300 ordinary buses are expected to hit the roads by November 2026, while the remaining will be inducted in phases by December 2026. In addition, 100 midi buses have already been purchased for PRTC to strengthen connectivity in both urban and rural areas. These buses are expected to begin operations by September 2026.
The remaining 483 buses will be inducted on lease under the Kilometre Scheme. More than 250 leased buses are already operational, while another 100 ordinary buses and 50 AC/HVAC buses are expected to join the fleet by October 2026. Cheema said the expanded fleet would be deployed using satellite-based travel pattern surveys to identify underserved routes and improve connectivity in rural and remote areas. The data-driven approach, he said, would help bridge existing transport gaps and improve last-mile connectivity.
Highlighting the government’s focus on women’s safety, the minister said nearly 54 per cent of passengers travelling on government buses are women, and the installation of CCTV cameras in all new buses would provide a safer and more secure travel environment. He also announced that conductors would be equipped with modern electronic ticketing machines supporting UPI payments through QR codes, making ticketing faster and more convenient for passengers.
With the expansion, the availability of government buses will increase from around seven buses per lakh population to nearly 12 buses per lakh population, significantly improving public transport coverage across Punjab. The Transport Minister said the additional buses would allow PUNBUS and PRTC to increase services on high-demand routes while extending government bus connectivity to villages and towns that currently lack scheduled services.
The expanded fleet has been planned for efficient operations, with an annual scheduled mileage of 3,842 lakh kilometres and an average daily run of around 300 kilometres per bus, considered the optimum utilization level. Cheema said the fleet expansion has been undertaken to meet growing passenger demand, particularly after the introduction of free bus travel for women, and reflects the Bhagwant Mann Government’s commitment to providing affordable, reliable, safe and accessible public transport to every citizen of Punjab.
Leave feedback about this