Punjab Transport minister Master Mohan Lal today laid out the aim of the State Automotive and Driving Skills Institute in Patiala. He was in the city to flag off three new bus routes.The proposed institute is to be set up as a joint venture between the Punjab government and Tata Motors with Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) to serve as the nodal agency. The institute aims to provide employment to the youth through specialised training in motor mechanics, refrigeration and air conditioning, painting, diesel mechanics, welding, electrical trades apart from heavy duty driving and for plying vehicles like bulldozers and cranes.The minister also issued appointment letters to 48 dependents of the deceased PRTC employees and announced regularisation in services of 45 daily wagers.He added that despite a hike in diesel prices, PRTC had earned an operating profit of Rs 9.49 crore, against Rs 2.03 crore last year. Three new bus routes — between Malerkotala and Ajmer Sharif, Chandigarh and Suratgarh via Ganganagar and Barnala to Hanumangarh were flagged off by Lal. Those present on the occasion included DS Jaspal, principal secretary, transport-cum-chairman, PRTC and Manvesh Singh Sidhu, managing director, PRTC.
