Chandigarh, Jul 17 (PTI) Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema Monday said his department has given approval to merge 371 debt-free buses of Punbus with the fleet of the Punjab Roadways.

He also said the department approved a budget of Rs 73 crore to meet expenditures for the same during this financial year, according to an official statement.

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Cheema said the decision was taken as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Punjab Roadways had only 115 buses in its fleet and with this merger, the number would be raised to 486, the statement said.

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This decision will help in strengthening the Punjab Roadways, the minister said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)