Chandigarh :
Government bus services across Punjab were severely affected today after the PRTC-Punbus 25/11 Contract Workers’ Union observed a statewide strike, bringing operations at several major depots to a standstill.
Around 1,200 contractual employees participated in the protest, raising slogans against the Punjab Government and the Transport Department. As a result, bus services remained suspended at nine major PRTC depots, causing inconvenience to thousands of daily commuters.
The strike affected depots in Barnala, Budhlada, Sangrur, Patiala, Ludhiana, Faridkot, Chandigarh, Kapurthala and Bathinda, where employees staged demonstrations outside depot gates, preventing government buses from operating.
The disruption led to long queues at bus stands, forcing passengers, including women, senior citizens and students, to rely on private vehicles and expensive taxi services.
Union Demands Reinstatement of Dismissed Conductor
According to union leaders, the strike was called to demand the reinstatement of Gurvinder Singh, a conductor from the Chandigarh depot who was dismissed over allegations of tampering with station slips and issuing fake station slips.
The union alleged that the employee was terminated without being given an opportunity to present his side and without a fair or transparent inquiry. It has demanded his immediate reinstatement and an impartial investigation by a senior official.
Warning of Intensified Protest
The PRTC-Punbus 25/11 Contract Workers’ Union warned that if the Punjab Government and the Transport Department fail to address their demands, the agitation will be intensified.
Union leaders said they could launch an indefinite statewide strike and shut down all government bus depots across Punjab, holding the government and the administration responsible for any inconvenience caused to the public.
