Free bus service for women in Punjab to continue says transport minister, Only fake aadhar cards to be checked

Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullarhas rejected the speculations of stopping the free bus service for women in Punjab. He clarified that women will continue to get the facility of free travel by showing Aadhar card as before. He also said that the government has not taken any decision to stop this scheme.

However, the minister admitted that the increase in the number of fake Aadhaar card cases is a matter of serious concern. In view of this, the government is currently working on a new technology, which will enable the verification of Aadhaar cards on the spot in buses.

Women will continue to get free bus travel in Punjab, Transport Minister said- only fake Aadhaar cards will be checked: This free bus travel scheme for women was started in April 2021 when there was a Congress government in the state. After this, after the Aam Aadmi Party government came to power, this scheme was expanded under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. So far, about 1.40 crore women have availed this facility.

According to the Transport Department, more than 3 lakh women are availing this free service daily in ordinary buses of Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS and PRTC. However, this facility is not applicable in AC, Volvo and other premium buses.

Minister Bhullar said that the biggest problem in the scheme is fake Aadhar cards. At some places, such cases have come to light where people were travelling by showing fake Aadhar cards. To deal with this problem, the government is working on digital verification technology so that the bus conductors can check the authenticity of the Aadhar card on the spot.