Punjab CM launches free travel facility for women/Girls in government-run buses PRTC, PUNBUS, CITY BUSES
Punjab Prime Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday unveiled a free travel platform for women on government buses within the government, and said this fulfilled another promise made by his party to their ballot paper.
The Punjab Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval for the plan.
"With this, we have fulfilled another election promise," the prime minister said after the launch, saying 85% of the promises were made by his government.
He said the country's government was now focused on achieving 100 percent of the commitments made before the convention.
While everyone is talking about the empowerment of women only, the Punjab government has taken a number of steps to achieve the same, the prime minister said.
In fact, while the promise was to reduce bus ticket prices for women by 50 percent, the government made it completely free, she said.
Singh also urged private taxi operators to understand their social obligations and reduce their fees.
Women can access the program on government-run buses, including Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC), Punjab Roadways Buses (PUNBUS) and city bus services run by the Department of Local Bodies.
However, it does not apply to AC, Volvo and HVAC government buses (temperature, ventilation, and air conditioning).
Expressing concern about crimes against women, the prime minister said his government was committed to their safety, with the Department of Transport installing GPS on all public and private buses to make it easier to track the car, in addition to emergency panels.
The process is almost over with government buses, and private companies have been asked to do so by August 31, the prime minister said in a statement.
He also announced that 25 more bus stations would be built in the province to improve road connectivity.
Singh said the free travel plan would give impetus to his government's vision of growth that includes the advancement of women and girls.
He said about 33 000 women would be offered government jobs this year, adding that a large number of female students had been provided with smartphones to help them study during the epidemic.
During the launch of the virtual network that connected 30,000 people to 1,036 locations, Surinder Kaur, who boarded a bus from Baghapurana to Jalandhar to collect medicine, said he was very surprised to find out about the program.
Punjab Youth Congress official Barinder Dhillon praised the move. He said the free movement of students to and from educational institutions should be considered to promote education..
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PUNJAB NEWS