Chandigarh February 28: Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal who is also holding the portfolio of Finance Department said that to increase the number of super luxury air-conditioned buses in the State, the State Government is in the process of purchasing 18 super luxury AC multi-axle buses by March 31, 2020.

Mr Manohar Lal disclosed this, while presenting the State Budget for the year 2020-21 during the ongoing Budget session of Haryana Vidhan Sabha here today. He announced an outlay of Rs 2307.44 crore for the Transport Sector in the budget estimates for the year 2020-21.

He said that the purchase of 867 standard non-AC buses meeting BS-VI emission standards is in the pipeline. Apart from this, on online bidding system basis, the department has also included hundred of buses in the fleet under the kilometer scheme.

The Chief Minister said that transport system of Haryana is one of the best transport systems in the country, which is committed to provide safe, affordable, efficient and reliable transport services to its people. He said that our existing fleet of 3602 buses including 38 Volvo/ Mercedes Super Luxury Air Conditioned Buses provide transportation facility to about 9.66 lakh passengers by covering a distance of about 10.5 lakh kilometers daily.

He said that as a social responsibility, free / concessional travel facility is being provided to the people of 41 different categories in the ordinary buses of the State Government. This also includes free travel up to 150 km for girl students from their residence to educational institutions and for this 36 buses are plying on 20 routes in Karnal, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Ambala and Panchkula districts. Apart from this, we have also started 181 special bus services on 163 routes for the convenience and safety of girls / women.