Strike by PRTC, PUNBUS staff hits passengers

Passengers were at the receiving end due to the three-day strike started by contractual PRTC and PUNBUS employees in Punjab on Monday. The passengers had to resort to private buses in the absence of Punjab Roadways buses on roads. They had to shell out more money while opting for private buses. The strike will be continued till January 8. At the same time, private bus operators had a field day as they picked up passengers from outside the bus stand itself.

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The strike also hit daily women passengers, who travel free of cost from periphery areas to work in the city. Kamlesh, a woman, said she works as a security guard at a mall here and comes from near Jodhan. But since government buses not plied on roads on Monday, she had to take a private bus and had to shell out approximately Rs 100 (to and fro) for a single day. “We do not earn much in three days to spend Rs 300-400 as fare for the bus,” she said.

It’s not just the passengers, who are suffering, but the state exchequer will also be at losses as buses are not being run on roads for three days in the state. As per estimates, over 1 lakh passengers will be affected in the state due to the ongoing strike by the Contractual Worker Union.

The striking employees are planning to hold a massive protest on Tuesday outside Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s residence. Employees’ leaders said their demands were not met despite being conveyed to the government several times. The main demand of the striking employees was to regularise staff working on a contractual basis. Other major demands include adding of new buses, buses under km scheme should be stopped, check on the transport mafia and wages of drivers, conductors and other staff to be increased.

Though there was not much rush on Monday due to Parkash Purb, on Tuesday and day after tomorrow when offices will open, more passengers are likely to suffer due to the ongoing strike.