Punjab is served by three government bus operators — PRTC (PEPSU Road Transport Corporation), PUNBUS (Punjab Roadways), and CTU (Chandigarh Transport Undertaking). Together they connect every major city in the state, as well as key inter-state destinations including Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Jammu & Kashmir. This page covers all operators, their routes, fares, bus terminal details, helpline numbers, and travel concession schemes — updated for 2026.
- February 2026 — Punjab government announced plans to shift the women's free travel scheme to smart cards (linked to Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana) to improve real-time tracking of beneficiaries.
- 2025–26 — PUNBUS and PRTC are undergoing a tendering process for an Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system on a BOOT model.
- Ongoing — CTU's ISBT Sector 43 has GPS and Passenger Information System (PIS) installed on buses and at bus queue shelters.
Bus Operators Running in Punjab
Three government-owned corporations operate scheduled bus services across Punjab. Each has a distinct service area, fare structure, and booking system — knowing which one to use saves you time at the bus stand.
Punjab Roadways, branded as PUNBUS, is the primary state transport undertaking of the Government of Punjab. Founded in 1948 with just 13 buses, it now operates a fleet of approximately 1,694 buses from 18 depots across the state. PUNBUS runs intra-Punjab routes connecting cities like Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Moga, Hoshiarpur, Muktsar, Pathankot, and Jagraon.
Headquarters: Jeevandeep Building, Sector 17, Chandigarh
Official portal: punbusonline.com
PRTC was established on 16 October 1956 and is headquartered in Patiala. It is the second major government bus operator in Punjab, currently running over 1,300 buses across 600 routes. PRTC operates 9 depots and employs over 4,500 staff.
Bus categories offered by PRTC include ordinary non-AC buses, express services, HVAC premium buses, and Volvo AC coaches on select long-distance routes like Patiala–Delhi and Amritsar–Delhi.
Headquarters: PRTC Head Office, Nabha Road, Patiala
Official portal: pepsurtc.com
CTU is the public transport arm of the Chandigarh Administration. Established on 1 November 1966, CTU now operates 603 buses. Of these, 167 run on inter-state routes covering Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Jammu & Kashmir.
It operates two major inter-state bus terminals in Chandigarh — ISBT Sector 17 and ISBT Sector 43.
Headquarters: Plot No. 701, Industrial Area Phase-I, Chandigarh
Official portal: chdctu.gov.in
Fares & Travel Concessions
Rates below reflect the latest state transport department notifications. All amounts are in Indian Rupees (₹) per kilometre.
Free travel for women: All women who are permanent residents of Punjab aged 18 and above are eligible for free travel on non-AC government buses — PRTC, PUNBUS, and city bus services run by Local Bodies. AC buses, Volvo buses, and HVAC buses are not covered under this scheme. A valid Aadhaar card or Voter Card showing Punjab residence is required. The scheme does not apply to travel outside Punjab state boundaries.
Senior women concession (60+ years): Punjab women aged 60 and above are entitled to a 50% fare concession on PRTC and Punjab Roadways non-AC buses. Passes are issued by Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs).
Inter-State Bus Connectivity from Punjab
- Punjab to Delhi: Operators: PRTC, PUNBUS. Departure points: Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Phagwara, Bathinda. Arrival: ISBT Kashmiri Gate.
- Punjab to Himachal Pradesh: Operators: HRTC, CTU, PUNBUS. Key routes: Chandigarh–Shimla, Pathankot–Dharamsala.
- Punjab to Haryana: Operators: Haryana Roadways, PUNBUS, CTU. Key routes: Chandigarh–Ambala, Jalandhar–Ambala.
- Punjab to Jammu & Kashmir: Operators: J&K SRTC, PUNBUS, PRTC. Key routes: Amritsar–Jammu, Pathankot–Jammu.
- Punjab to Rajasthan: Operators: RSRTC, CTU (from Chandigarh ISBT 17). Key routes: Chandigarh–Jaipur, Chandigarh–Bikaner.