Overview
- Contractual employees of Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS and PRTC began a three‑day statewide strike on August 3 to demand job regularisation, equal pay, withdrawal of criminal cases and an end to the kilometre scheme.
- Thousands of state buses were parked and officials estimated more than 1,000 routes and about 500,000 passengers were disrupted during the shutdown.
- Talks with the transport minister produced only verbal assurances on August 3, which prompted unions to plan a march to the chief minister’s residence before the government later provided written assurances.
- Union leaders suspended the strike after the transport secretary gave written commitments and set a board meeting for August 11 and a follow‑up with the transport minister on August 14 to review progress.
- Commuters faced long waits, overcrowding and higher private fares during the stoppage, and the longer‑term outcome will depend on whether the government implements the written pledges on regularisation and the kilometre scheme.