Panbus and PRTC Contract Workers Begin Three-Day Strike, Bus Services Hit Across Punjab

Passengers relying on government bus services in Punjab are likely to face significant inconvenience from August 3 as contract employees of Panbus and the Punjab Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) have begun a three-day strike. The protest has resulted in the suspension of operations of a large number of government buses, affecting both local routes and interstate transport services. The contract workers have announced a complete strike from August 3 to August 5, covering Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. During the protest period, employees will organise gate rallies at various bus depots across the state. They will also stage demonstrations and raise slogans against the Punjab Government to press for their demands. Meanwhile, Punjab Transport Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has called a meeting with the union at 10:00 a.m. to discuss the matter. Union President Resham Singh Gill said the employees were compelled to go on strike because no decision had been taken regarding the long-pending demands of contract workers despite their continued service. The strike is expected to affect thousands of daily commuters, working professionals, students, and passengers travelling to neighbouring states. With a large number of government buses remaining off the roads, public transport services across Punjab are likely to remain disrupted during the three-day protest.