Bus operators’ strike leaves commuters stranded

In a sudden escalation of tensions between public and private transport operators, bus services of the PRTC, Punjab Roadways and PUNBUS across the city were suspended on Saturday afternoon following a scuffle between a PRTC conductor and an employee from a private bus company. The incident disrupted the daily routine of hundreds of passengers, many of whom were left stranded in the sweltering heat.

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On Friday night, when some passengers, who boarded a bus from Ferozepur and had to go to Bareilly, sat on a Punjab Roadways bus. When the bus stopped at the Ludhiana bus stand, the passengers asked the conductor to guide them to continue their journey to Bareilly. Since it was late, the conductor allegedly suggested the passengers to go via train instead of boarding a private bus due to high fares.

The suggestion led to a heated argument with the private bus employee, which quickly turned physical. In solidarity, members of the PRTC, PUNBUS and Punjab Roadways staged a protest and demanded action against the culprit and his companions. They waited till the first half of the day during which no action was taken by the police. Afterwards, the bus operators halted the services, causing inconvenience to passengers in sweltering heat.

“I had to reach Rajpura to meet someone for a business deal, but the delay cost me the dear,” said Parveen Kumar, a commuter waiting since noon. “There was no information, no alternative. We were just left in the lurch,” he said.

Another daily passenger, 52-year-old Meena Devi, who travels to Ludhiana for her medical treatment, said: “In this scorching heat, waiting without shelter felt like punishment. We didn’t know whom to ask or where to go. Left with no other option, I hired a taxi to reach my destination”.

State general secretary, Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS, and PRTC Contractual Workers’ Union, Shamsher Singh, confirmed that the decision to halt the service was taken to protest harassment faced by the conductor of the bus. “We cannot allow outsiders to intimidate our conductors. Today’s stand was necessary to show unity,” he said.

“I was supposed to be in Chandigarh by 3 pm for my cousin’s engagement preparations,” said 27-year-old Amandeep Kaur, holding her bag tightly at the deserted bus stand. “Instead, I stood in the hot weather for over an hour, not knowing whether I’d even reach,” she said.

Later, the police initiated legal proceedings in the matter in the evening.