Punjab Roadways Strike Ends after 5 Days; 1,600 Buses Back on Roads

December 2, 2025

Jalandhar: The five-day strike by Roadways, PNB, and PRTC contract workers in Punjab ended on Tuesday. Gurpreet Singh, vice president of the union in Ludhiana, said the strike was against corporate overreach and that the workers participated unitedly.

According to Gurpreet Singh, during the strike, the police detained several employees and filed cases against them under serious sections such as 307. Management also issued instructions that departmental action would be taken against employees involved in the protests and they would be dismissed from their jobs.

He said the protest was primarily to demand the release of imprisoned comrades and the reinstatement of all employees. According to union leaders, management agreed to these demands, after which the decision was made to end the strike. Now, 1,600 buses, which had been parked at the depot for five days, are back on the roads.

Transport Minister said – 1000 new buses will be purchased.

Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said that the employees protesting are also from our family. The kilometer scheme was implemented during the previous government. Under this scheme, permits are given to unemployed people. The government also includes its own buses in this scheme. Now the government will add 900 buses to PUNBUS-PRTC. 100 midi buses will also be added to PRTC, which will be purchased by the government.

Union President Resham Singh, State President of the PUNBUS-PRTC Contract Workers Union, stated that all actions taken during the strike have been withdrawn and all employees have been reinstated. The process of releasing those in police custody or jail has begun.

The workers from the Ropar and Nawanshahr depots have been released, and the government is releasing the remaining workers as well. An agreement has been reached to provide 900 government buses, and the government has announced this. Another meeting will be held soon with the Punjab Transport Minister and officials to discuss other demands.