PRTC workers call off strike

The three-day strike by the PRTC Contract Workers Union was called off around 5 pm today after union leaders accepted an offer for a meeting with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on January 15. Buses resumed operations late in the evening, but not before commuters, especially women, faced significant hardships due to the strike.

The strike led to a sharp decline in the number of women passengers at the Shahid Madan Lal Dhingra Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT), as private bus operators hiked fares on short-distance routes, exploiting stranded passengers.

Karamjit Kaur, a daily commuter from Khasa, shared her plight, stating that she usually relies on government buses for her commute due to the free travel scheme for women. However, for the past two days, she has been forced to pay Rs 40 for a one-way trip, which usually costs only Rs 10.

Jasbir Kaur from Attari village echoed similar concerns, saying she was also charged Rs 40 to travel to the city. “I had to request my employer to cover the fare, as I could not afford it,” she said, urging the government to monitor private transporters to prevent such exploitation during strikes.

The government operates approximately 270 buses in its two depots, staffed by around 500 contractual and outsourced workers, alongside 15 regular employees. In contrast, private transporters dominate the district with over 700 buses, including mini-buses.

The strike underscored the challenges faced by commuters when public transport services are disrupted, highlighting the need for effective contingency plans and stronger regulation of private operators.