*Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan expressed grief over the demise of Asha Bhosle Ji, legendary singer*
Chandigarh, April 12, 2026:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan expressed deep grief over the demise of 'Suron Di Mallika' Asha Bhosle ji. He expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family in this hour of grief. Her voice has left an indelible mark on the hearts of music lovers for decades. Her songs will always live in our hearts and mesmerizing the people across the globe.
Speaker Sandhwan deeply saddened to hear the news of his passing away and he prayed to the God to grant peace to the departed soul. Almighty may give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss in this hour of distress.
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*Vrindavan Boat Mishap*
*Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora shares grief with bereaved families*
*Calls for time-bound probe and accountability for negligence, assures full government support to families*
Chandigarh April 12, 2026:Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora, along with MLA Kulwant Singh Sidhu, visited the families of the victims of the tragic Vrindavan boat mishap on Sunday in Ludhiana.
Sanjeev Arora visited the home of Rakesh Gulati and his wife Anju Gulati, and separately the residence of Meenu Bansal and her daughter Dinki Bansal, who lost their lives in the accident, to offer his condolences and support the grieving families during this extremely difficult time.
Minister Arora sat with the family members and shared in their sorrow. He said that no words can truly ease the pain of losing a loved one, and that he came not just as a minister, but as a human being to stand with them in their grief. He strongly criticized the negligence that led to the tragedy and called for strict action against those responsible. He said the incident was not just an accident but the result of carelessness, and that those managing the boat must be held accountable. He demanded a high-level and time-bound investigation, adding that those responsible must face strict legal action and should not be allowed to escape responsibility.
Arora also said that the Punjab government will coordinate with the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure justice is delivered quickly and to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future. He assured the families of full support from both the government and himself personally. He told the families that they can reach out to him anytime for help and that they will not be left alone during this difficult period.
MLA Kulwant Singh Sidhu, who was present during the visit, supported the Minister’s statements and promised to ensure all necessary assistance is provided at the local level.
On Sunday, the body of Dinki Bansal, daughter of Meenu Bansal, was also recovered from the Yamuna River. Her mortal remains are expected to arrive late at night.
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*Bhagwant Mann Govt to add 1,265 buses into PRTC & PUNBUS to transform public transport network: Harpal Singh Cheema*
*Kilometer scheme drives jobs & growth as Punjab rolls out large-scale bus expansion: Harpal Singh Cheema*
*250 buses added to PRTC fleet under KM scheme by giving opportunity exclusively to Punjabis only: Harpal Singh Cheema*
*Volvo, HVAC & new buses to upgrade passenger comfort across Punjab routes: Harpal Singh Cheema*
*Historic transport push to improve frequency, reliability & state revenue: Harpal Singh Cheema*
CHANDIGARH, 12th April 2026:-Reaffirming the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government's commitment to providing robust and accessible public transport, Punjab Finance and Transport Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday announced a major expansion of the state’s transport network. He said that the Punjab Government is set to add a massive fleet of 659 buses to the PEPSU Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) and 606 buses to PUNBUS.
Transport Minister Harpal Singh Cheema shared that 250 buses were recently added to the fleet under the Kilometer (KM) Scheme. He said, "This initiative was exclusively extended to residents of Punjab to generate maximum employment opportunities within the state. Under this Kilometer scheme, the private individuals owning these buses were given the freedom to have their vehicles fabricated according to their own preferences, provided they strictly complied with all government standards and safety norms.”
To achieve the complete target of 659 buses for PRTC, the transport department is not stopping at the Kilometer Scheme additions. Harpal Singh Cheema said, "PRTC is currently going through an active tender process to procure an additional 309 standard buses alongside 100 Midi buses, ensuring a comprehensive upgrade to the regional transport infrastructure."
Providing a detailed breakdown of the 606 buses designated for PUNBUS, the Transport Minister outlined a systematic procurement plan designed to optimize operations. He said, "Out of this total allocation, a significant portion of 387 buses will be directly added to the general PUNBUS fleet to immediately address the growing demand for public transit across various routes. The remaining additions to the PUNBUS fleet will be executed under the Kilometer Scheme to further boost operational efficiency and route coverage.”
He added, “This specific phase includes the induction of 19 PUNBUS Volvo buses and 100 HVAC buses, ensuring comfortable travel options for passengers. Furthermore, this expansion will be rounded out with the addition of 100 ordinary buses under the KM Scheme, bringing the grand total of new PUNBUS vehicles to 606.”
Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that this historic fleet expansion across both PRTC and PUNBUS is expected to significantly improve connectivity across Punjab. The addition of new buses in PRTC and PUNBUS fleet promises to offer a more comfortable, reliable, and frequent travel experience for daily commuters while simultaneously boosting local entrepreneurial opportunities and state revenue.