The Punjab government has decided to discontinue the free travel facility that had been available on the province’s major public transport systems, including the Metro Bus, Orange Line Train, Speedo, Electric Bus, and Green Bus services. The decision marks the end of a temporary relief measure introduced to help citizens cope with rising living costs.
According to the Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMTA), the subsidy was launched in April 2026 as part of a broader inflation relief package. Initially planned for just one month, the scheme was later extended after the government reviewed its impact and prepared recommendations regarding its continuation.
Officials stated that despite the absence of any major decrease in petroleum product prices, the provincial government has now chosen to withdraw the subsidy. As a result, commuters using Punjab’s public transport network will once again be required to pay the standard fares.
The PMTA confirmed that passengers can continue to travel free of charge until the end of today. However, beginning June 13, the normal fare collection system will be fully restored across all affected transport services. Ticketing operations and fare collection mechanisms have already been prepared for the transition.
The free travel initiative proved highly popular among the public, with authorities estimating that nearly 800,000 passengers benefited from the facility every day. Data shared by officials showed that around 290,000 commuters used the Orange Line Train daily, while the Metro Bus service recorded more than 100,000 passengers during the subsidy period. Thousands more relied on Speedo, Electric Bus, and Green Bus routes across the province.
The initiative was originally introduced to provide financial relief to citizens affected by inflation and increasing fuel prices. While the government believes the temporary package achieved its objective, the restoration of regular fares is expected to increase transportation costs for hundreds of thousands of daily commuters who depend on public transit for work, education, and other essential travel.
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