Chandigarh: Thousands of commuters across Punjab faced travel problems on Wednesday after contract employees launched a statewide strike. The protest brought operations at many Punjab Roadways and PUNBUS depots to a halt. As a result, government bus services remained unavailable on several routes.

The employees organised the strike to demand regular jobs, higher salaries, better working conditions, and stronger job security. Since buses stayed inside the depots, many passengers had to depend on private buses, taxis, or other transport options.

Bus Services Disrupted Across the State

The strike affected transport services in Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala, Bathinda, Mohali, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur, and Moga. Several local and inter-district routes witnessed delays or complete cancellations.

Many passengers reached bus stands early in the morning but found no government buses available. Consequently, long queues formed at private bus counters. Students, office workers, daily wage earners, and patients experienced the biggest difficulties.

Transport officials tried to run limited services on some routes. However, staff shortages and the closure of several depots made normal operations impossible.

Why Are Contract Employees Protesting?

Union leaders say the government has ignored their demands for years. According to them, repeated promises have not resulted in meaningful action.

The employees have raised several demands, including:

• Regularisation of contract workers.
• Equal pay for equal work.
• Better salaries and allowances.
• Improved job security.
• Recruitment to vacant posts.
• Better working conditions.

Union representatives say many employees have served for several years. Despite that, they still receive lower salaries and fewer benefits than permanent workers doing similar jobs.

They also claim they submitted memorandums and met government officials many times. Since those meetings produced little progress, they decided to begin a statewide protest.

Government Begins Talks

The Punjab government has started monitoring the situation closely. Officials from the Transport Department are expected to meet union leaders to discuss possible solutions.

The government has requested employees to resume work while talks continue. Meanwhile, officials are preparing alternative arrangements to reduce inconvenience for passengers.

If the strike continues, the department may introduce temporary measures to maintain essential transport services.

Commuters Bear the Burden

The strike has disrupted daily life for thousands of people. Many residents depend on government buses because they provide affordable travel across Punjab.

Several passengers waited for hours before learning that buses had been cancelled. Others paid higher fares to travel on private buses or taxis. Some even postponed their journeys.

Students travelling to colleges, patients visiting hospitals, and office workers heading to their workplaces faced the greatest inconvenience.

Business owners also expressed concern. They warned that a prolonged strike could affect trade and local economic activity.

Unions Demand a Permanent Solution

Employee unions say they want a lasting solution instead of temporary assurances. They have urged the government to address their demands through meaningful discussions.

Labour organisations have also supported the protest. They believe better employment conditions can improve public transport services in the long run.

At the same time, passenger groups have appealed to both sides to settle the dispute quickly. They say the public should not suffer because of a prolonged disagreement.

What Happens Next?

The future of the strike depends on the outcome of negotiations between the Punjab government and employee unions.

If both sides reach an agreement, government bus services could return to normal within a short time. However, if talks fail, commuters may continue to face travel disruptions over the coming days.

Conclusion

The statewide strike by Punjab’s contract transport employees has disrupted bus services and affected thousands of passengers. Workers continue to demand regular jobs, fair salaries, and better working conditions.

Passengers, meanwhile, hope the government and employee unions resolve the issue quickly. A timely agreement will restore public transport and reduce inconvenience for people across Punjab.