Before sunrise: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann makes surprise 4:45 am stop at Kurali bus stand to listen to commuters’ plight

Passengers Surinderpal Singh, Hardev Singh, Jaspal Singh and several others told Mann that they had been waiting for nearly an hour with no buses stopping. Some passengers said they had been at the stand since 3:30 am to catch a bus to Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, but not a single bus stopped. Others pointed out that several buses slowed down but did not halt, forcing people to wait on the roadside for hours. Travellers also highlighted the dilapidated condition of the decades-old Kurali bus stand, which has seen no major upgrades for years.

Taking note of the situation, the CM immediately summoned Rupnagar Deputy Commissioner Varjit Walia and directed him to ensure prompt action on two fronts: proper management at the bus stand and strict measures against buses skipping scheduled stops.

Mann assured the public that regular buses to Amritsar and other key routes would soon start from Kurali itself. “This issue will be resolved at the earliest,” he told passengers, who thanked him for his intervention.

Punjab Youth Welfare Board Chairman Parminder Goldy Jaswal, who brought the matter to the CM’s notice, said that Mann’s direct involvement has paved the way for a swift solution. He added that Kurali, Nawangaon and Kharar have been suffering due to the absence of proper bus stands for years. Former Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar had also inspected the Kurali bus stand earlier.