According to commuters, public service is meant to be reliable, affordable and state-run.

No Buses, No Alternatives: Punjab Roadways–PRTC Strike Cripples Daily Commute Across the State

Contractual employees of Punjab Roadways and PRTC went on a state-wide strike. It led to frustration and uncertainty, as it has caused inconvenience to innumerable commuters. For many residents, like daily wage earners, students, and women dependent on subsidised or free travel, this strike meant more than just waiting at empty bus stands. Some had to spend extra on private transport by paying higher fares or even had to cancel travel plans. One commuter in Ludhiana recalled paying nearly INR 100 for a single day’s round trip. It is a burden many cannot bear on a regular basis.

Contractual employees have been demanding for a long time. The demand is for regularisation of jobs, equal pay, and a stop on outsourcing and private-bus contracts under the controversial “kilometre scheme”. Under this scheme, private operators run buses on government routes on a per kilometre basis, while contractual drivers and conductors face uncertainty over job security. The union says this will lead to backdoor privatisation.

Union leaders argue that instead of expanding the public fleet of government-owned buses, the authorities are heavily dependent on kilometre-scheme vehicles, which is a threat to the livelihoods of long-time staff. Their demand is immediate regularisation of workers, a pay hike (including a 5% annual increment), and an end to outsourcing practices that keep them perpetually contract-bound.

The disruption has sparked wide criticism. According to commuters, public service is meant to be reliable, affordable and state-run. It is being undermined, especially at a time when many cannot opt for alternatives. The strike highlights a larger truth: when public transport fails, it is not just convenience that suffers; the livelihoods, education access, medical visits, and daily routines all have to suffer.

This strike raises pressing questions: Should public transport be treated like a business? Or should it remain a social service backed by the government? And above all, what happens to the workers who keep the buses running?

Source: The Tribune