Punjab Bus Strike: Roadways, PUNBUS, PRTC Staff Walk Out From Oct 21ਪੰਜਾਬ ਬੱਸ ਹੜਤਾਲ: ਰੋਡਵੇਜ਼, ਪਨਬੱਸ, ਪੀਆਰਟੀਸੀ ਮੁਲਾਜ਼ਮ 21 ਅਕਤੂਬਰ ਤੋਂ ਹੜਤਾਲ 'ਤੇ

Contract and outsourced workers of Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS and PRTC began an agitation on Tuesday evening and have announced an indefinite strike from Wednesday, October 21, which could take more than 3,000 government buses off Punjab's roads, according to The Times of India.

What has happened so far

Drivers and conductors at depots across the state refused to run outstation night-stay services late on Tuesday and returned their buses to depots, a union member told The Times of India. The Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS and PRTC Contract Workers' Union says no government bus will leave in the first shift on Wednesday. Punjabi Jagran reported that more than 5,500 employees could join.

What the union wants

Per Punjabi Tribune and Punjabi Jagran, the union demands that contract workers be made permanent, that the outsourcing system be ended, and that police cases registered against workers during protests be withdrawn. Union president Resham Singh Gill told Amar Ujala that in the last six months there were seven to eight meetings with Finance and Transport Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, and that each time the union was asked for ten more days without any demand being met. He said the government had promised to implement decisions and issue notifications by October 15, and workers protested at depots that day.

Impact on commuters

Government buses carry daily travellers, students and office-goers, and the strike comes right after Dussehra. Passengers may also see effects in neighbouring Haryana, Himachal and Chandigarh, as reported by Jaipur Times. The Tribune separately reported that Jalandhar bus stand was shut for nearly two hours on Tuesday over a private operator's timetable dispute. That is a different matter and not part of the strike.

Not the first strike this year

The same union held a strike in early August 2026 that ended after the government gave an assurance, Hindustan Times reported. The state government had not announced a fresh settlement in the reports we opened.

Is the Punjab bus strike confirmed?

Workers began refusing night-stay services on Tuesday evening and the union has announced an indefinite strike from October 21. Watch for any government talks overnight.

Which buses will be affected?

Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS and PRTC buses, over 3,000 according to The Times of India. Private buses are not part of the strike.

What are the workers demanding?

Permanent jobs for contract staff, an end to outsourcing, and withdrawal of police cases filed against workers.