Ludhiana Commuters Face Major Disruption as State Buses Diverted for Political Events
Commuters across Ludhiana experienced significant inconvenience on Monday, with a large number of state-run buses taken off regular routes due to their deployment for a state government event in Patiala and an AAP rally scheduled in Hoshiarpur. The diversion of buses severely disrupted daily services, leaving passengers stranded and causing extended waiting times at bus stands throughout the city.
Widespread Cancellations and Stranded Passengers
Sources indicated that PRTC buses were allocated for the state government event held in Patiala. Additionally, Punjab Roadways and Punbus buses were withdrawn from routine routes from the afternoon in preparation for the Hoshiarpur rally. According to staff members, approximately 50 Punbus buses from Ludhiana were kept on standby for the Hoshiarpur event and were expected to move towards various villages by evening to transport participants.
This diversion resulted in the cancellation or reduction of several regular bus routes, causing widespread hardship. Daily commuters who depend heavily on state-run transport for work, education, and medical travel were the most affected. Passengers reported severe overcrowding at bus stands and prolonged waiting periods, with many opting to postpone their travel or turn to private operators as an alternative.
Staff Criticize Misuse of Public Transport
Staff members alleged that the continued deployment of state-run buses for political events constitutes a misuse of public transport resources. They explained that such arrangements typically impact services for nearly three days. "On the first day, buses are withdrawn and kept ready, reaching villages late in the evening. On the second day, buses ferry people to the event and return late at night. On the third day, buses cannot be taken out as they wait for fuel, and drivers also need adequate rest," a staff member stated. Employees also complained about having to work overtime without being able to claim compensation.
Severe Strain on Ludhiana Depot Operations
The situation at the Ludhiana depot was particularly strained, according to staff reports. While around 83 Punbus buses are usually operational from the depot, nearly 50 were diverted for the Hoshiarpur rally on Monday. Several other buses were reportedly off the roads due to ongoing repairs. Furthermore, only about 20 Punjab Roadways buses were operational from Ludhiana on that day.
This repeated diversion of buses has significantly reduced the availability of state-run transport on routine routes. In rural areas, where bus frequency is already limited, cancellations caused even greater hardship, especially for students and workers commuting to nearby towns.
Women and Vulnerable Passengers Hardest Hit
Women passengers were among the worst affected, as many rely on the free travel facility provided on state-run buses. With fewer buses operating, queues at bus stands grew longer and waiting times increased substantially. Sneha, a city resident, shared that she had been waiting for a Chandigarh-bound bus for about 45 minutes, but no government-run bus had arrived. She noted that the lack of buses left many passengers confused and frustrated.
Manjit Kaur, an elderly woman, reported waiting at the Chandigarh terminal for nearly an hour. She needed to travel urgently to Chandigarh for a medical check-up, but no state-run bus had arrived since she reached the bus stand, highlighting the severe impact on medical travelers.
Official Response Acknowledges Disruption
When contacted about the fragmented bus services, Punjab Roadways Ludhiana depot general manager Navraj Batish confirmed that around 50 buses were sent for the Hoshiarpur rally as per instructions from the state government, resulting in fewer buses being available for regular routes. This admission underscores the direct link between political event deployments and the disruption of public transport services for daily commuters.
