CHANDIGARH: Where there was once silence on the road, the tune of progress will now be heard! Under the visionary and decisive leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government has transformed its biggest guarantee of employment for the state's youth and improved transportation services into a ground reality.
In an historic move to make the youth self-reliant and connect rural areas to the mainstream of development, the government has rapidly worked on its ambitious plan to revive 3, 000 defunct bus routes. This initiative is directly opening the path to self-employment for more than 10, 000 youth in the state and giving new momentum to the state's economy. This is not just a transport plan, but a resolve to write a new story of prosperity in millions of homes.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had clarified that the state government would not only make the youth job seekers but job providers by strengthening the transport system. This scheme is proof of that resolve. Approximately 3, 000 new buses are required to operate on the 3, 000 revived routes, and the government has ensured that every bus will provide direct employment to at least three individuals, benefiting over 10, 000 youth in total. True to its promise, the government has also established a mechanism to provide easy and quick loan facilities to the youth for purchasing new buses. This initiative is empowering unemployed youth to start their own transport businesses, which will accelerate Punjab's economic growth. This is not just a scheme; it is a big and significant investment in Punjab's future.
Emphasizing this important initiative, the Transport Minister stated that under Chief Minister Mann Sahib's 'vision', they have not just made announcements, but have implemented them at the ground level. He said, "These permits are not just pieces of paper, but passports to self-reliance for our unemployed youth. We are committed to taking Punjab forward."
This scheme has a dual benefit—while extensive job creation is happening on one hand, revolutionary improvement in rural connectivity is taking place on the other. Chief Minister Mann's instruction to restore long-closed rural bus services is now bearing fruit. These buses will primarily run on rural link roads and other district roads, bridging the gap between villages and cities. The availability of better transport facilities has brought great relief to farmers, labourers, students, and the general public in their daily lives.
Taking concrete steps in this direction, the Transport Department has issued 154 Stage Carriage Permits right at the beginning of this scheme. These permits have been granted under Section 5 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, along with Clause 3(E) of the transport scheme approved by the Punjab Government, which shows that the government is moving forward with full legal and administrative strength.