Punjab Tourism Minister denies plans to restart Jal Bus Service

Punjab’s Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, has dismissed media reports suggesting that the state government plans to restart the Jal bus service at Harike in the Ranjit Sagar Lake. Calling the reports baseless rumors, Sond clarified that there is no proposal to relaunch the project.

Criticism of the Jal Bus Project

The minister criticized previous governments for investing approximately ₹8.63 crore into the Jal bus project, labeling it a symbol of corruption and poor decision-making. He noted that the project, which is under investigation, caused an unnecessary financial burden on Punjab and operated at a significant loss. Despite the substantial expenditure, the revenue generated barely reached thousands of rupees.

Sond emphasized that the Jal bus is unfit for operation and poses a significant safety risk. “The possibility of a major accident cannot be ruled out if the bus is relaunched,” he warned.

Commitment to Public Welfare

Under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s leadership, Sond assured that the government is prioritizing the safety and welfare of the people. He urged the public not to believe false reports about the Jal bus’s relaunch, reiterating that the current administration would not revive projects that endanger lives or misuse public funds.

The minister concluded by calling the Jal bus a “super fail” project that symbolized wasteful expenditure by previous governments. He stressed that such funds could have been better utilized for welfare initiatives benefiting the people of Punjab.