New Delhi, Oct. 27 -- Punjab is expanding public transport in rural areas while funding infrastructure upgrades at Maharishi Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal in Amritsar. The initiatives cover village-to-city connectivity, employment and improvements at a religious and cultural site.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann flagged off 100 new 29-seater mini buses for the Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC) in Patiala on October 26. He said the buses would operate on rural and small-town routes through nine depots, helping residents reach workplaces, schools, colleges, markets and essential services. The government plans to add another 309 large buses to the fleet next month.

The depot-wise allocation is 25 buses for Patiala, 15 each for...