Chandigarh: Commuters across Punjab are likely to face significant travel disruptions as contract employees of Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC have intensified their agitation against the state government over pending demands, affecting a large number of government bus services across the state.
Following a call by employee unions, protests began statewide on Wednesday, leading to disruptions in bus operations from 12 noon onwards. The agitation has impacted public transport services relied upon daily by thousands of passengers, including office-goers, students and workers.
Union leaders claimed that nearly 8,000 employees are participating in the protest. According to the unions, around 80 per cent of government-operated bus routes across Punjab have been affected due to the strike, causing inconvenience to commuters and disrupting normal travel schedules.
Passengers have been advised to verify bus availability before starting their journeys, as services may vary across districts depending on the level of participation in the protest.
Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC Contract Workers Union Punjab Senior Vice-President Harkesh Kumar Vicky said employees had been raising their demands for a long time but alleged that the government was not addressing their concerns seriously.
The union has also voiced strong opposition to the alleged privatisation of various government services. Employee representatives claim that continued privatisation efforts are creating uncertainty about workers’ futures and affecting job security.
Union leaders further alleged that false cases are being registered against protesting employees and that punitive actions, including arrests, have been taken against workers involved in demonstrations.
They said repeated attempts had been made to draw the government’s attention to their demands through discussions and protests, but no concrete solution had emerged so far, prompting the decision to intensify the agitation.
The strike is expected to have the greatest impact on daily commuters who depend on public transport for work, education and other essential travel. With a substantial portion of the state-run bus fleet affected, thousands of passengers may be forced to seek alternative modes of transportation.
Attention is now focused on possible negotiations between the state government and employee unions, with commuters hoping for an early resolution that can restore normal bus operations across Punjab.
