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Punjab Bus Strike Ends After Government Assurances in Six-Hour Talks

The walkout over kilometre-based tenders concluded after the state pledged reinstatements, release of detainees and additions to the public bus fleet.

Commuters board a private bus, a day after a strike by PRTC contractual workers over detainment of their leaders by police, at a bus stand, in Patiala, on Saturday. (PTI)
A gridlock outside the ISBT as private bus operators parked their vehicle on the road, to allow commuters to board, as the gates of the bus stand were closed due to the protest in Ludhiana on Friday ; (right) police disperse the agitators from the city bus stand. (Gurpreet Singh/Hindustan Times)
Commuters stranded at the ISBT in Ludhiana on Saturday. (Manish/HT)
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Overview

  • Contractual staff of Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS and PRTC called off their three-day strike Sunday evening after talks with Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar in Tarn Taran.
  • The minister said suspended workers would be reinstated and asserted that operations are restored, while a union representative said detained employees would be released and new buses would be added.
  • Authorities had escalated enforcement during the stoppage, with notices issued and reported terminations ranging from 22 at PRTC to 152 across state transport entities.
  • Bus services are resuming after widespread disruptions that left passengers relying on costlier private transport and affected beneficiaries of the state’s free travel scheme for women.
  • The agitation had flared into violence in Sangrur, where the Dhuri SHO suffered burn injuries and police booked 10 protesters on serious charges, according to officials.