Commuters hassled as PRTC, Punjab Roadways contract staff protest

Patiala, June 29

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Demanding regularisation, hundreds of contractual and outsourced employees of Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) and Punjab Roadways (PUNBUS) held a sit-in here today. Commuters in the state were at the receiving end as around 50 per cent of the buses remained off road during the strike which started on Monday.

Protesters blocked the Fountain Chowk by erecting tents. Consequently, the traffic movement in the city was paralysed. The police, as a precautionary measure, had to block all roads leading to the roundabout. The contractual employees were on a three-day strike over their unmet demands.

PUNBUS Contractual Employees’ Union leader Kamal Kumar said: “We are demanding regularisation of thousands of employees of PRTC and PUNBUS, who have been working on contract for over a decade now.”

After protesting at the roundabout, the protesters marched towards the Chief Minister’s residence. However, protesters were stopped by heavy police force near YPS roundabout. The protesters then staged a sit-in at the roundabout for an hour. Protesters called off the stir after a written assurance of meeting with the Transport Minister, Principal Secretary (Transport) and OSD to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. — TNS