Chandigarh, June 10: Direct state-run luxury transport connecting Punjab’s commercial hubs to the Delhi international airport received an operational boost Tuesday with the deployment of five new premium Volvo coaches. Transport Minister Harpal Singh Cheema announced the rollout of the high-end Super Integral vehicles, affirming the Bhagwant Mann administration’s commitment to providing reliable and economical long-distance transit for international passengers, regular travelers, and the NRI community.
The transport department noted that the newly deployed vehicles represent the initial phase of a larger 15-coach order designed to augment the Punbus operational fleet. Government representatives stated that increasing the presence of state-authorized luxury options serves to neutralize the financial hold of unregulated private operators on the route between Punjab and Delhi.
“The first five premium buses have been successfully rolled out today, and the remaining buses will further enhance connectivity and passenger convenience,” Transport Minister Harpal Singh Cheema affirmed during the presentation.
Cheema stated that under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, public transit welfare has become a central focus of state policy. He remarked that the initial foundation for the specialized airport link was established on June 15, 2022, from the Jalandhar transit hub to ensure safe and accessible journeys for families traveling abroad.
The minister stated that the premium vehicles will follow a precise daily operational schedule to prevent delays for departing air travelers. Departures from the Ludhiana transit facility will occur at 08:20, 09:15, 11:20, 16:20, and 00:20, while the corresponding Jalandhar airport-bound services will leave at 06:50, 07:40, 09:10, 14:27, and 23:30. Return options departing from the Delhi terminal are fixed at 04:40, 09:00, 17:20, 19:30, and 21:40.
The state transport authority is currently advancing a massive fleet overhaul involving hundreds of conventional and climate-controlled vehicles. Cheema noted that a total of 696 new buses are transitioning into active service, with Punbus absorbing 100 ordinary units, 100 HVAC air-conditioned models, and 10 contracted kilometer-scheme coaches, while PRTC operations are being reinforced with 245 conventional passenger buses to improve rural and urban route density.
