Punjab Roadways Strike Disrupts Bus Services Across State
Thousands of contractual employees protest to demand job regularization and better wages, leaving commuters stranded on the first day of a three-day strike.
Overview
- Approximately 8,000 contractual employees from Punjab Roadways, PRTC, and Punbus have launched a three-day strike, halting nearly 90% of state-run bus services.
- Key demands include the regularization of contract jobs, a 5% annual salary hike, reinstatement of suspended workers, and an end to outsourcing recruitment practices.
- The strike has left commuters stranded across Punjab, with many relying on packed private buses, taxis, and trains to reach their destinations.
- Protests are being held at all 27 bus depots in Punjab, and union leaders plan to march to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s residence on Tuesday to escalate their demands.
- Efforts by the state transport department to deploy regular employees to minimize disruptions have seen limited success, with only 10% of buses operational in some regions.