Chandigarh: Public transport across Punjab remained severely affected on Thursday as contractual employees of Punjab Roadways and the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) continued their indefinite strike for a second day, coinciding with the Bharat Bandh observed by several farmer, trade and banking organisations.
The protest, which began on Wednesday, has led to widespread disruption of bus services throughout the state. Thousands of passengers were left scrambling for alternatives, with many turning to private operators to reach their destinations.
Efforts by the state government to defuse the crisis have so far failed to yield a breakthrough. A delegation of union representatives met officials on Wednesday for prolonged discussions that stretched late into the evening. However, the talks concluded without any agreement.
According to Harkesh Vicky, state vice-president of the PRTC Contractual Employees Union, nearly 8,000 employees from 27 depots have joined the agitation. He said union leaders were again in dialogue with the Transport Secretary in Chandigarh, pressing for the withdrawal of serious criminal charges registered against several workers during earlier protests.
The employees’ organisations allege that a number of staff members were arrested in November following demonstrations in districts including Sangrur and Patiala. They claim that more than 20 workers were booked under stringent, non-bailable provisions, while 34 others were dismissed from service. Those taken into custody remain behind bars more than two months later, the unions said.
The ongoing transport strike has compounded the impact of the nationwide shutdown call. Various trade bodies have announced demonstrations in different parts of Punjab, raising the possibility of further disruption.
Farmers’ leader Sarwan Singh Pandher defended the bandh, stating that peaceful protest is a democratic right. He said the agitation is aimed at opposing increased privatisation and expressing concern over the India–US trade agreement, which farmer groups argue could harm agricultural interests.
With transport services still largely suspended and negotiations unresolved, commuters across the state continue to bear the brunt of the impasse.
