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Call off strike or face termination, Punjab transport dept warns agitating contractual employees

The employees launched the strike on Friday against the opening of tenders related to the kilometre-based bus scheme in Punjab, which they claimed was an attempt to dismantle the state-run transport system.

3 min readChandigarhUpdated: Nov 29, 2025 03:43 PM IST

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, addressing the media, said his doors are open for dialogue. (File Photo)

Amid protests by employees of state-owned bus services, the Punjab Transport Department on Saturday issued them notices to call off the strike and return to work, failing which their services would be terminated.

The employees launched the strike on Friday against the opening of tenders related to the kilometre-based bus scheme, which they claimed was a backdoor attempt to bring in private buses and dismantle the state-run transport system. They alleged that this would help private operators to run buses on government-notified routes.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, addressing the media, said his doors are open for dialogue. “I understand that the employees have a democratic right to protest, but they should make sure that the people are not inconvenienced. I understand their economic and social pressures,” he said, inviting the protesters to the table for a discussion on their demands.

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The Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) and Punjab Roadways have about 5,000 outsourced and contractual employees, who have been protesting across the state since Friday, causing inconvenience to hundreds of commuters. Bus services in parts of the state remained affected on Saturday also as employees of the Punjab Roadways, Punjab State Bus Stand Management Company Limited (PUNBUS) and the PRTC continued their protest.

A government functionary told The Indian Express, “We have issued them notices. They have been asked to call off their strike and return to work. Since there is not much load on buses on weekends, we can do with 50 per cent operations. On Friday also, 55 per cent of our buses were plying. We are just waiting for them to return to work. If the notices do not yield, then we will have no option but to terminate their services. They are contractual and outsourced employees. They can only be terminated. They cannot be put under suspension.”

The employees stated that in the last four years, the government had not added a single new bus to the existing fleet. The buses were in bad shape and needed repairs.

The government’s public transport system has been facing several problems due to a lack of funds. The Punjab government’s free bus travel scheme for women also requires the government to shell out about Rs 600 crore.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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