Punjab Bus Services Disrupted as Contractual Employees Begin Strike
Commuters across Punjab are facing severe transport disruptions as around 8,000 contractual employees of Punjab Roadways and the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) have begun a three-day strike. The strike, which started on January 6, 2025, has grounded approximately 2,800 buses across the state, severely affecting public transportation services. The employees are demanding job regularisation, salary hikes, and improved working conditions.
The strike has left thousands of passengers stranded at bus depots, with services across the state coming to a halt. Punjab Roadways, which operates a crucial network of buses connecting cities and towns, and PRTC, a major regional transport corporation, have been the primary services affected. The strike also involves the Punbus and PRTC Contract Workers’ Union, led by president Resham Singh Gill, who has stated that the strike is a direct response to the lack of action on their demands, despite previous negotiations with the Punjab Transport Minister. “We are demanding regularisation of our jobs, better pay, and better working conditions,” said Gill. “This strike is necessary because we’ve been working under contractual terms for years, with no job security and little to no benefits. The government must take our concerns seriously.”
The employees have staged demonstrations at 27 bus depots across the state, with plans to march towards the residence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on January 7. However, discussions with the transport minister have failed to resolve the issue, leaving the employees feeling unheard. “We’ve had meetings, but no tangible results have come out of them,” Gill added. “We have no choice but to escalate our protest.” The strike has had a profound impact on daily commuters who rely on these bus services for their travel. For many, public transport is the only affordable means to travel to work, school, or medical appointments. Harpreet Kaur, a resident of Amritsar, shared her frustration: “I’ve been waiting for hours to get a bus. The strike has disrupted my entire day. We understand the workers’ demands, but this is affecting everyone. The government needs to step in and resolve this quickly.”
The ongoing strike is also putting pressure on the state government, which has yet to fully address the demands of the employees. While the Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar has met with union leaders, no agreement has been reached. The government’s lack of a concrete solution is raising concerns among the public, who are calling for quicker action to avoid further inconveniencing commuters. Despite the disruptions, the government maintains that it is engaged in discussions with the employees and is considering their demands. However, with no resolution in sight, the situation is only escalating. “We are committed to ensuring that both the employees and the public benefit from a fair and sustainable solution,” a spokesperson for the Punjab government said. “We are in talks with union representatives, but we must also balance the needs of the wider public.”
Public opinion remains divided. While many sympathise with the employees’ need for fair treatment, the inconvenience caused by the strike is undeniable. Commuters are growing increasingly frustrated with the ongoing disruption to essential services. The situation highlights the deepening challenges faced by Punjab’s public transport system, and the urgency with which the government must address the issues at hand. As the strike continues into its second day, the people of Punjab are calling for both the government and the employees to find a middle ground quickly to restore essential bus services and avoid further disruption to daily life. The outcome of this strike will be closely watched by citizens, as it could set a precedent for similar labour disputes in other sectors.
