Latest news with #KilometreScheme
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Salary delay, regular job demand sparks bus strike, people hassled
Passengers relying on public bus services were once again left high and dry, after contractual workers of Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC brought services to a grinding halt on Thursday. It is the second strike in a week, plunging daily travel into turmoil and forcing hundreds of commuters to scramble for costly or 'unreliable' alternatives. Passengers waiting for buses at Ludhiana bus stand on Thursday. (HT Photo) Earlier, workers had stopped bus operations on August 8 for around one and a half hours before calling off the protest after the state transport department agreed to hold talks on August 13. However, with the discussions failing to resolve issues, the strike was resumed on Thursday, protesters said. Under the banner of Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC Contractual Workers Union, employees are holding a statewide protest against the tendering of new buses under the Kilometre Scheme, delayed salaries, demand for job regularisation and scrapping of contract-based hiring. Over 2,500 buses, including 235 from Ludhiana, of Punjab Roadways and PEPSU Road Transportation Corporation (PRTC) stayed off road across the state, the protesting employees said. Commuters stranded At Ludhiana bus stand, several passengers heading to different destinations were left stranded, many unaware of the strike until they reached the station. Women availing benefits of the state's free travel scheme were among the worst hit, forced to buy tickets from private operators. Gurbaksh Kaur, 59, travelling to Jalandhar, said, 'I have been waiting since morning for a government bus. It has been over two hours. Now, I have no choice but to travel by a private bus.' Similarly, Sonam, a 19-year-old college student travelling to Jagraon, said, 'I was not aware of the strike. I use my Aadhaar card to travel in government buses and did not carry much money. Now I don't know how I will manage the fare.' Notably, over 235 buses of Punjab Roadways and PRTC remained off the roads from Ludhiana, affecting more than 80 routes, including interstate services to Katra, Jaipur, Ambala, Manali, Manikaran and Chintpurni. Additionally, several rural routes, including Machhiwara, Sultanpur, Nakodar and Shahkot were also affected. Union stance State general secretary Shamsher Singh Dhillon said repeated strikes were necessary because the government had 'ignored' their concerns. 'We have repeatedly warned that the Kilometre Scheme is a tool of corruption to benefit private operators. The government had assured us it would be scrapped, but now they are planning to induct more buses under it, wasting public money,' he said. Dhillon added that while the salaries of contractual employees were released after the August 8 strike, outsourced workers are still awaiting their dues. 'Talks with the transport department have failed, so we have no option but to continue our strike,' he said. Despite several attempts, Navraj Batish, General Manager, Punjab Roadways remained unavailable for the comments.
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana:Private operators bleeding PRTC dry, alleges union
Amid the ongoing induction of 200 new buses under the kilometre scheme, fierce opposition has erupted from workers of the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC). In a letter submitted to chief minister Bhagwant Mann and senior transport officials on May 7, workers, under the banner of the Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and PRTC contractual workers union alleged that the kilometre scheme has become a tool for corruption, siphoning off public funds and systematically weakening the state's own transport network. The Kilometre Scheme, under which private bus operators are paid, based on the number of kilometres covered on the government-issued permits, has long drawn criticism from employees and activists. The scheme launched as a public-private partnership model to ease the financial burden of expanding the state-run bus fleet, allows PRTC to invite private bus owners to run their vehicles on government-assigned routes. The scheme eliminates the need for the government to invest in purchasing new buses. Under this model, the private operator provides the vehicle, hires the driver, and bears all maintenance and fuel costs. PRTC, in turn, deploys its own conductors and handles route scheduling. The transport department pays the operator a fixed rate per kilometre, usually ranging between ₹9 to ₹10.5 depending on the bus type and year of agreement. A bus covering 15,000 km in a month could earn its owner nearly ₹1.5 lakh. However, union leaders argue that the scheme is neither cost-effective nor employment-friendly in the long term. Shamsher Singh Dhillon, state general secretary of the union, said, 'The scheme was introduced with the claim of creating jobs for unemployed youth. But how can a jobless person afford to invest ₹15–20 lakh in buying a bus? Also, the drivers are hired by private operators, and there is no regulatory check on their skill or conduct, unlike government-hired drivers. In case of mishaps, it is the PRTC's credibility that suffers.' Rising costs, no lasting gains According to the union, a private bus running 10,000 km a month under this scheme, earns around ₹93,500, while one covering 15,000 km earns upwards of ₹1.4 lakh. Over six years, a single private bus could cost the transport department close to ₹1 crore, without contributing to the creation of a public asset. 'In contrast,' the union noted, 'a government-owned bus costs around ₹30 lakh and remains in service for up to 15 years, while generating employment for drivers, conductors, and maintenance staff.' 'This is not about efficiency or economy. It's about siphoning public money in the name of convenience while sidelining our own workforce,' a senior union member added. Union warns agitation The union has issued a warning that if Kilometre Scheme buses are inducted again, they will launch a full-scale agitation. 'No private bus under this scheme will be allowed to ply on government routes. The administration will be held responsible for any disruption in public transport,' the union declared. Acknowledging the ongoing induction, PRTC chairman Ranjodh Singh Hadana said, 'We floated the tender for 200 new buses under the Kilometre Scheme at the end of February. So far, PRTC has received around 80 buses.' He further added that the remaining 120 buses are expected to be inducted soon. However, when asked about the allegations of corruption and malpractice under the scheme, he refused to comment.
