CHANDIGARH, Aug 16 — The strike by Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and PRTC contract workers entered its third day on Friday, with no resolution in sight despite repeated talks with the government. As a result, around 3,000 buses across the state remain grounded, causing widespread inconvenience to commuters.
The union is demanding the closure of the kilometer scheme and the permanentization of temporary employees. Union leaders confirmed that the indefinite strike will continue today, with employees of Punbus, Roadways, and PRTC remaining off duty until their demands are addressed.
The standoff has persisted since August 7. The union had initially staged a two-hour statewide strike to press for its demands, prompting the Transport Department to summon talks on August 13. However, the discussions have failed to yield any agreement. Even a meeting on August 15 concluded inconclusively.
Resham Singh Gill, district president of the union, said the strike is aimed at ending the contract system and securing permanent positions for temporary staff. “For the last three and a half years, the government has kept delaying our demands by holding repeated meetings,” Gill said. “In our meeting with the Transport Minister on July 9, he assured us that the decisions made on July 16 would be implemented, but nothing has been done yet.”
Union leaders also emphasized their call for the complete cancellation of the kilometer scheme. “Officials are only willing to postpone the scheme, but they are not ready to cancel it,” Gill added. In addition, Punbus employees have reportedly not received their salaries this month due to the absence of the contractor.
With no breakthrough so far, the strike continues to disrupt public transport across Punjab, heightening tensions between the government and the union.
