Punjab Roadways Strike: Contractual employees of Punjab Roadways, PRTC Begin 3-Day Strike

Punjab Roadways Strike: Commuters across the state faced severe dislocation as the contractual employees of Punjab Roadways and Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) on Monday began a three-day strike. The strike, led by around 8,000 contractual employees, has left approximately 2,800 buses off the roads, which badly affected public transport.

The strike, organized under the banner of Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and PRTC Contract Workers’ Union, seeks to pressure the government into fulfilling key demands. These demands include regularization of jobs, salary hikes, and better working conditions. According to Resham Singh Gill, who presides over the union, talks held with Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar failed to redress all these demands.

The strike has stranded over one lakh passengers across the state. Bus stands in major cities, including Ludhiana, Amritsar, and Chandigarh, witnessed chaotic scenes as stranded commuters scrambled for alternatives. Many were forced to rely on private bus services, often at a higher cost. Kamlesh, a daily commuter working at a mall in Ludhiana, expressed her frustration:
“We don’t earn much in three days and now have to spend ₹300-400 just on transport. The government should resolve this quickly.”

The situation was particularly dire for women from peripheral areas who depend on the free bus services provided by Punjab Roadways to commute to cities for work.

Demonstrations are being held at all 27 bus depots in Punjab. The protesters have threatened to take the agitation to the next level by marching towards Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s residence on Tuesday.

The strike has also brought into focus issues of public safety and convenience, as private operators try to fill the void left by government buses.

So far, the Punjab government has not responded to this disruption. The commuters and protesters are waiting for a solution to break the stalemate.

The strike brings to the fore the growing discontent among contractual employees over job insecurity and pay disparities. With daily life disrupted and pressure mounting on the government, all eyes are now on the state administration to address the grievances of its workers and restore normalcy.