Punjab Government Ends Free Public Transport Service After Subsidy Withdrawal

The Punjab Mass Transit Authority has officially confirmed the termination of the transport subsidy that had enabled free travel across the province’s mass transit system, despite the absence of any major decline in petroleum product prices nationwide. According to official and media reports, the free commuting facility was initially launched in April 2026 as a short-term relief measure under a public support package, originally intended for a one-month duration. Although discussions were later held regarding a possible extension of the initiative, and internal recommendations were prepared to continue the benefit, the provincial government has now finalized the decision to discontinue the scheme. During its implementation period, the program provided substantial relief to commuters, with nearly 800,000 passengers benefiting daily across metro buses, the Orange Line Train, Speedo buses, and Green Line services throughout Punjab. Among these, around 290,000 passengers used the Orange Line Train each day, while more than 100,000 relied on metro bus services without paying fares. The subsidy was introduced as a response to rising inflation and increased fuel costs, aimed at easing the financial pressure on daily travelers. However, starting June 13, all passengers using Punjab’s mass transit network will once again be required to pay standard fares, marking a return to the regular ticketing system across all services.