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Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Commuters suffer as govt buses remain of roads in Punjab for Day 3
Patiala: Commuters across Punjab continued to face inconvenience on the as nearly 3,000 buses operated by the PRTC, Punbus and the Punjab Roadways remained off the roads for the third consecutive day on Saturday. The disruption in services resulted from an ongoing strike by contractual employees of the state-run transport undertakings. The union leaders announced that starting Aug 17, a state-level sit-in would commence in front of the residence of the chief minister Bhagwant Mann in Chandigarh. They said any significant damage during the strike and sit-in would be the responsibility of officials displaying "dictatorial" behaviour. On Saturday, protesters also burnt effigies of transport officials. They said they would continue their protest by suspending bus services on August 17 as well. "On Independence Day, a meeting was again held with the transport secretary after which they agreed to some of our demands but no written assurance was given despite our request for one," claimed the union leaders. The protesting employees are demanding the cancellation of the kilometre-scheme tenders being floated for private bus operators. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Could This NEW Collagen Blend Finally Reduce Your Cellulite? Vitauthority Learn More Undo They are also pressing for pending salary payments and other job-related demands. The shutdown, which began on Aug 14, left the commuters in a lurch as private buses were overcrowded. The protesting union leaders informed that Rs 2.64 crore constitutes the PRTC's daily receipt, while Punbus collects a daily receipt of Rs 3 crore. The strike will cause revenue losses to both PRTC and the Punbus, they said. The protesters are also demanding regularisation and addition of new buses to the PRTC and Punbus fleets, believing this could enhance revenue instead of paying the owners of the buses enrolled under the kilometre-scheme. The union leaders claimed that according to the state govt transport policy of 1986, the govt and private buses should operate at a ratio of 70:30. Currently, the buses are operating against this policy. Approximately 400 govt buses completed their 15-year lifespan in the last three years and are non-operational. Yet, the state govt failed to add new buses to its fleet, they said, adding that the last addition – around 800 new buses – was made in 2021. Harmesh Singh Vicky, general secretary, Punjab Roadways Punbus/PRTC Contract Workers Union Punjab 25/11, said meetings with govt officials had failed several times in the past as officials did not provide any written assurance even as they agreed to some of our demands. "We will start a sit-in protest in front of the CM's residence in Chandigarh from Sunday and the next decision will be announced tomorrow," he added. MSID:: 123334387 413 | Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Krishna Janmashtami Wishes ,, messages , and quotes !
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Strike halts 3,000 public buses in Punjab, commuters bear the brunt
1 2 3 Nearly 3,000 buses operated by PRTC, Punbus and Punjab Roadways remained off roads on Thursday due to a strike by contract employees, leaving commuters in the lurch. A week ago, contractual workers demanded the cancellation of the kilometre-scheme tenders being floated for private bus operators and pressing for overdue salary payments and other job-related demands. The protest was temporarily suspended after govt intervention. However, the workers issued a warning that they would resume their protest beginning Aug 14 if their demands were not met. The employees are also demanding regularisation and addition of new buses to the PRTC and Punbus fleet. The workers claimed that as per the state govt transport policy of 1986, govt and private buses need to be operated at a 70:30 ratio, a move not being followed. Around 400 govt buses completed their 15 years of life in the last three years and are non-operating. Nevertheless, the state govt failed to add any new buses to the govt fleet, with only around 800 new buses being added in 2021, they claimed. The strike caused inconvenience to a number of commuters, especially women who have been provided free travel access in govt buses. "I had planned to go back home to Rampura Phul due to the long weekend but only private buses are operating and that too are overcrowded. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo On the busy routes, it becomes very difficult for women to travel in the overcrowded bus," said Navjot Kaur, a student from the university in Patiala. A PRTC employee union leader said that on several routes there are no or very few private buses operating in the state and the suspension of buses on these routes leaves a greater impact. Many commuters found themselves stranded without any way to reach their destinations. Resham Singh, president, PRTC-Punbus Employee Union, said they have been called for a meeting with govt officials . "If the meeting doen not bring any fruitful results, we may extend our strike," he said. Members of contractual employees union said that Rs 2.64 crore constitutes PRTC's daily receipt, while Rs 3 crore is that of Punbus. MSID:: 123300491 413 | Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
Hindustan Times
6 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.
Hans India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Punjab: Contractual employees of state-run buses go off road; commuters hit
Chandigarh: Commuters across Punjab faced inconvenience as contractual employees of the state-owned Punjab Roadways, Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC), and Punbus went on an indefinite strike on Thursday against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP government, demanding the regularisation of contractual employees and addressing their long-standing issues. Protestors did not allow buses of Punjab Roadways and Punbus to ply in several towns and cities. The worst affected places were Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, Amritsar, Bathinda, Ferozepur and Moga. Nearly 8,000 employees of Punjab Roadways, PRTC and Punbus were on strike. Bus services on inter-state routes and within the state were affected, officials said. Harkesh Kumar, senior vice-president of the PRTC, Punbus and Punjab Roadways contract workers unions, said apart from scrapping tenders under the kilometre scheme for private players, the unions had alleged that Transport Minister Laljit Bhullar had failed to fulfil their demands. After Wednesday, the government called for another round of meetings with union leaders here on Thursday to end the dialogue. The protesters held demonstrations at 27 bus depots, raising slogans against the government. Kumar threatened to gherao Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during the state-level Independence Day function in Faridkot. 'Our demands are simple. We urge the government to regularise all contractual staff and end the draconian guidelines.' Government functionary Jasdeep Singh Lalli said while PRTC operates 1,200 buses, Punjab Roadways has around 1,600, and no new buses have been added to the PRTC fleet in the past four years. He said the government pays taxes for routes of 5,000 km each month where no buses are currently operating. Another union leader, Shamsher Singh, said, 'The department hasn't credited our monthly salaries. How are we supposed to celebrate the festival without our dues? They claim the funds have been released, but nothing has reached our accounts.'
Hindustan Times
09-08-2025
- Hindustan Times
1.5-hour PRTC strike leaves Ludhiana commuters hassled
Hundreds of commuters heading to their homes for Raksha Bandhan, found themselves stranded on Friday afternoon after contractual staff of Punjab Roadways, PRTC, and Punbus went on an impromptu strike, abruptly halting state-run bus operations across the state. The stranded commuters at Ludhiana bus stand during the strike on Friday. (Manish/HT) The strike, under the banner of the Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC Contractual Workers Union, which lasted from 2 pm to 3.30 pm, brought state-run bus operations to a halt, severely disrupting travel plans ahead of the festival. The union called off the strike after receiving a confirmation for a meeting with the state transport authorities on August 13. The disruption, which took place at Ludhiana bus stands already brimming with passengers, added chaos to an already crowded and festive atmosphere. With the humid weather intensifying the discomfort, passengers, particularly women, were seen frantically rushing between platforms in search of limited private buses. Among the stranded was 55-year-old Kulwinder Kaur, who was trying to reach Moga. 'I was waiting for my bus when suddenly they announced that no government-run buses would operate. It's been over an hour and I still can't find a private bus to Moga. It's so confusing here,' she said, visibly frustrated. Savita, travelling with her five-year-old son to Malerkotla, said, 'They should have informed us earlier, or stopped the services in the morning. Now, in the middle of the day, where do we go? I was supposed to tie Rakhi to my brother, but the delay has ruined our plans,' she said. The strike stemmed from ongoing issues between union leaders and the state transport department regarding delayed salaries of outsourced and contractual employees, along with concerns about the tendering of new buses under the kilometre scheme. Shamsher Singh, state general secretary of the union, stated, 'The department hasn't credited our monthly salaries. How are we supposed to celebrate the festival without our dues? They claim the funds have been released, but nothing has reached our accounts.' Singh also criticised the ambiguity surrounding the kilometre scheme tender. 'No official notification on this. How can we trust the management without a formal letter?' he added. This is not the first time that Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and PRTC contractual workers have resorted to striking during peak hours. Over the past year, the union has disrupted bus operations eight times, leaving passengers dependent on these buses for their daily commutes stranded and frustrated. In response, Punjab Roadways general manager Navraj Batish said, 'We are in talks with the protesting workers and have promised them that all pending salaries will be credited by Friday evening.'
