Punjab Transport Department Issues Ultimatum to Striking Employees
The Punjab Transport Department has issued a stern warning to its agitating contractual employees, demanding they call off their ongoing strike immediately or face termination of their services. The notice was served on Saturday, a day after the employees launched their protest.
Root of the Conflict: The Kilometre-Based Bus Scheme
The employees, affiliated with Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC), Punjab Roadways, and Punjab State Bus Stand Management Company Limited (PUNBUS), began their strike on Friday, November 28, 2025. Their primary grievance is against the government's move to open tenders for a new kilometre-based bus scheme. The workers allege this initiative is a backdoor attempt to privatize the state-run transport system by allowing private operators to run buses on lucrative government-notified routes.
They further argue that the government has neglected the public transport fleet, pointing out that not a single new bus has been added in the last four years. The existing fleet is in poor condition and requires significant repairs, a problem compounded by a general lack of funds. The financial strain is further intensified by the state's popular free bus travel scheme for women, which costs the exchequer approximately Rs 600 crore annually.
Government's Stance and Commuter Impact
In response to the crisis, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann addressed the media, striking a conciliatory tone while expressing concern for the public. I understand that the employees have a democratic right to protest, but they should make sure that the people are not inconvenienced, Mann stated. He emphasized that his doors are open for dialogue, inviting the protesters to discuss their demands.
However, a government functionary revealed a harder line, explaining that since the employees are contractual and outsourced, they cannot be suspended but only terminated. The official noted that bus operations were managing at about 55% capacity on Friday and expected to cope with 50% over the weekend due to lower passenger load. The strike has already caused significant disruption, affecting hundreds of commuters across the state as services remained hampered on Saturday. The protest involves nearly 5,000 outsourced and contractual employees of PRTC and Punjab Roadways.
The situation remains tense, with the government's ultimatum hanging over the heads of the employees. The ball is now in the court of the protesting workers to either return to work and accept the government's invitation for talks or face the severe consequence of job loss.
