It's the latest expansion of rural routes that started under the direction of Transport Minister Jack Warner and PTSC chairman Devant Maharaj.
Speaking at the function to inaugurate the services, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessasr thanked both Warner and Maharaj for the work they have done in taking services to the people, which she noted is a reversal of the policies of the last administration, which was to take services away.
She was happy to be "home" in Siparia but noted that the PTSC was not only putting its services in Siparia but in many other areas as well.
"They are not looking after us here in Siparia because it is the Prime Minister’s constituency...they will be going to all rural areas to implement similar initiatives," she said.
"Many rural areas are now provided with a reliable bus service which was non existent before. Areas such as Wallerfield, Piarco, Arima, La Sieva, Tamana and Talparo can now be connected to the city centres and people can travel with class and ease to where they work, play or pray," she added.
"The children of these areas can now have reliable transportation to go to school and the mothers and fathers can get to and from work on time and at an affordable cost."
Persad-Bissessar said the Corporation’s ability to roll out services to many areas across the country is very impressive and added that "it is quite clear that PTSC is setting the pace for all other state boards to follow."
She commended the line minister, the board and "all the hard-working staff at the Corporation" for their continued dedication to the delivery of "this most vital service".
"The efforts on the part of the Board to upgrade the transportation for the elderly and the disabled and the employment of technology through GPS are welcoming initiatives.
"Soon we will have many of people choosing to park their cars at home and enjoy the PTSC experience in conjunction with the Ministry’s traffic plan will make gridlocks on the highways and roadways a thing of the past," She added.
The Prime Minister also commended the PTSC for becoming the first state entity to celebrate a milestone for itself and for the nation, "when on May 1st some 334 bus drivers had their employment status regularized and confirmed."
She called it a tremendous achievement by the board "to have put workers first and foster a good industrial relations climate in this, the month of May, that is dedicated to delivery of my government’s plan of action in the first twelve months of being instated."
She called on everyone who will benefit from the new services to use the buses "so we will not have empty seats". She also urged them to take pride in the service and keep the buses clean.
Persad-Bissessar reminded her audience that in a few weeks "your People’s Partnership government" would complete its first year in office during which it has made an impressive impact on the lives of citizens "by the many initiatives which have been implemented so far the various Ministries and Government Offices."
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