In a decisive initiative to address and systematically resolve the structural challenges within the state’s public transit network, Punjab Finance and Transport Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday chaired a high-powered review meeting with a high-level delegation from the association of Mini Bus Operators here at the Punjab Civil Secretariat.
During the intensive session, the Transport Minister, along with Secretary Transport Varun Roojam, State Transport Commissioner Parneet Shergill and Director Transport Rajiv Kumar Gupta, thoroughly evaluated a detailed memorandum submitted by the association regarding their pressing operational hurdles. The Finance Minister immediately issued directives to top department officials to execute swift administrative interventions wherever required, emphasising that the state government is deeply committed to safeguarding the economic viability of thousands of self-employed transport operators across Punjab.
Deliberating comprehensively on the primary grievance concerning the steep escalation in vehicle passing fees, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema assured the delegation that the state would explore all legal channels to mitigate their financial liabilities. Addressing the serious operational friction caused by unregulated vehicles, the Transport Minister ordered an immediate enforcement crackdown on unregulated vehicles operating on designated mini bus routes, which severely damages the livelihood of established operators, disrupts scheduled timetables, and compromises passenger safety by causing preventable road accidents.
The Minister also took serious note of the acute financial distress experienced by small-scale operators due to the inflationary surge in input costs, including diesel, tyres, and motor lubricants. Acknowledging that these rising expenses threaten the sustainability of the sector, the Minister directed the finance and transport wings to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the state-level tax structures to identify viable mechanisms for granting operational relief to the struggling self-employed sector.
The meeting also addressed administrative bottlenecks related to assigning temporary or additional charges of regional transport offices to sub-divisional magistrates and additional deputy commissioners rather than appointing permanent personnel. Transport Minister Harpal Singh Cheema noted the operational stall and directed the department to streamline administrative postings, optimise the digital clearance systems of the transport authorities, and ensure routine compliance certifications are processed promptly to maintain a resilient and efficient transport economy.
During the meeting, Baldev Singh, Hardeep Singh, Harbans Singh Dhaliwal and Pardeep Kumar represented the association of Mini Bus Operators, Punjab.