CHANDIGARH, Sept. 2 -- The Punjab government's free women travel scheme has left the PEPSU Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) facing a severe cash crunch, with the state-owned undertaking spending around Rs.30 crore every month on the scheme while a substantial part of its reimbursement claims remains pending with the state government.

With just Rs.4 crore left in its coffers against immediate liabilities of nearly Rs.284 crore, the cash crunch has raised concerns over the corporation's ability to meet salary, pensions and other statutory payments.

PRTC operates around 1,500 buses and employs nearly 4,000 people, including 3,000 outsourced workers, while its monthly expenditure on salaries and pensions is around Rs.35 crore.

The PRTC ma...