PRTC employees protest at Jalandhar Depot; demands to scrap kilometer scheme, regularize staff

March 23, 2026

In Jalandhar, the Punjab Roadways and PRTC Contract Workers’ Union has launched a protest against the state government over their pending demands. On Monday, a massive ‘gate rally’ was organized by the employees at the Jalandhar depot.

The primary focus of this protest is the tenders being issued under the ‘Kilometer Scheme’ and the demand to regularize the services of contractual employees.

Agitation will escalate if demands are not addressed 

Union leaders made it clear that if the administration and the government do not address their demands promptly, this agitation could escalate and take on a more aggressive form.

While addressing the rally, the union leaders stated that the government’s Kilometer Scheme poses a threat to the future of both the department and its employees.

Privatization of Buses 

Under this scheme, private contractors will be granted permission to operate buses, with only conductors from the Roadways workforce being included in the operations. The employees contend that this constitutes a major step toward the privatization of the Transport Department.

This move would not only result in a loss to the state exchequer but would also diminish future employment opportunities. Several rounds of meetings have been held with the administration regarding this issue; however, no concrete solution has emerged thus far, leading to widespread resentment among the employees.