Punjab Cancels 600 Illegally Batoned Bus Permits, 30% Linked to Sukhbir Badal

Permits of as many as 600 buses in Punjab were cancelled on Friday after state Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar ordered a complete review of composite permits under Rule 80-A of the Punjab Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.

Following this order, an initial investigation revealed numerous operational irregularities, leading to the cancellation of 600 permits that had been illegally consolidated.

“These permits were issued without proper permission during the previous Akali Dal and Congress governments between 2007 and 2017,” Bhullar said, citing the involvement of several leading transporters.

The transport minister revealed that around 30% of the cancelled permits were linked to former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Bhullar stressed that the illegal grouping of permits had created an unfair advantage for larger operators, stifling competition and undermining the rights of smaller transport companies. “Our goal is to dismantle these monopolies and create a level playing field for all operators,” Bhullar said.

Investigations revealed numerous instances of illegal permit bundling, including the issuance of multiple composite permits disguised as a single entity and the unauthorized retention of excess round-trip travel.

Further, the Transport Ministry has also asked all Regional Transport Authority (RTA) secretaries to review composite permits in their regions, ensuring compliance with Rule 80-A.

“Only those permits that meet the required criteria will be allowed to continue on common schedule,” Bhullar said, adding that the move will promote healthy competition and improve public transport services in Punjab.