Alert for Punjab Bus Passengers: PUNBUS/PRTC workers announce indefinite strike
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, July 30, 2025: Commuters in Punjab are likely to face major travel disruptions as contract employees of PUNBUS and PRTC have announced an indefinite strike starting August 4, accusing the state government of reneging on its promises.
The union, led by State President Resham Singh Gill and General Secretary Shamsher Singh Dhillon, has warned that if their demands are not met by August 4, government buses across the state will be halted — even those already on the road.
Broken Promises and Escalating Tensions
The union had earlier postponed its strike planned for July 9, following assurances from the Transport and Finance Ministers that all issues would be resolved by July 28. However, union leaders claim that the government failed to follow through:
- The July 16 meeting was cancelled.
- The July 21 meeting was inconclusive, and notably, the Transport Minister was absent — an act the union has called “insensitive.”
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The immediate cause of the strike is the government’s move to introduce private buses under the "Kilometer Scheme", with tenders scheduled to open on August 4. Union leaders argue this scheme is an attempt to privatize public transport and benefit corporate players.
They have vowed to disrupt all government bus operations across Punjab at the time these tenders are opened.
The union has strongly opposed the scheme, stating:
- The government already owes ₹1,100 crore in pending dues for free bus travel for women.
- Now, it's planning to spend ₹32–35 lakh per private bus, which the union claims will burden the state exchequer while weakening public transport.
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With the August 4 deadline approaching, a standoff between the government and the employees' union seems imminent. If not resolved in time, the strike is expected to cause statewide disruption in public transport, affecting lakhs of daily passengers, especially those dependent on government buses for work and education.