As many as 30 persons were given appointment letters on compassionate grounds by the Ajit Singh Kohar Transport Minister Punjab in a simple function organized at Punjab Bhawan here today. While giving appointment letters to 11 clerks and 19 conductors, the Minister said that the Transport department was fully geared up to provide better transport facilities to the people of the state as well as committed to the welfare of its employees. He said that the Transport department during the last 5 years had given 744 appointment letters to the dependents of the deceased whereas the PRTC had given 550 such appointment letters. Besides this 3500 employees have been promoted and drivers, conductors and security guards were among 2500 appointed through outsourcing within last 5 years.Referring to quality transport facilities extended to the people of the state, Kohar said that Punjab was perhaps the first state in India who was giving air conditioned bus service with a meager enhancement of 15% of the usual bus fare. There were 1986 buses of PUNBUS and Punjab Roadways plying on roads. About 1285 new buses have been added to this fleet during the last 5 years and the government would add 350 new buses in the existing fleet, said Kohar.Reiterating his commitment to improve and upgrade the basic Transport facilities in Punjab, the Minister said that modern bus stands have been constructed at different cities such as Jallandhar at a cost of 11.60 Ccrores , Ludhiana 13.47 Crores, Hoshiarpur 7.30 Crores, Anandpur Sahib 4.78 Crores whereas Majitha bust stand at a cost of 2.70 Crores was under construction. Besides this new bus stands at Pathankot, Moga, Jagraon, Ferozepur, Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar, Zeera, Muktsar, Nangal, Derababa Nanak would be constructed shortly. Besides this the government has approved the construction work of Rupnagar bus stand. Speaking on the occasion Mandeep Singh, Secretary Transport said that electronic ticketing machines have been installed to issue tickets. A scheme of giving 50% discount has been introduced especially for online reservation system and the daily passengers. He also said that free travel facility to the tune of 42 crore annually has been given the eligible passengers in the state run buses. To regulate the speed and avoid rash driving resulting in fatal accidents, speed governors have been put in the state run transport buses, said the secretary. About the International bus service, he said that two Volvo buses were plying from the holy city of Amritsar to Lahore and Nankana Sahib.