Punjab Bus Strike Begins After Talks Fail; Jalandhar Depot Alone Idles 200 Busesਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਫ਼ੇਲ੍ਹ, ਪੰਜਾਬ ਬੱਸ ਹੜਤਾਲ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ; ਇਕੱਲੇ ਜਲੰਧਰ ਡਿਪੂ ਦੀਆਂ 200 ਬੱਸਾਂ ਬੰਦ

Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS and PRTC contract workers have started their indefinite strike after talks with the Transport Minister failed, IANS reported on Wednesday, October 21, leaving commuters stranded at bus stands across the state.

What has stopped

Dainik Bhaskar reported that at the Jalandhar depot alone around 200 buses were off the road as Punbus and Roadways staff sat on a sit-in. The Times of India had reported on Tuesday that the staff would go on a complete strike from October 21.

What the workers want

According to Bhaskar, the union has three demands: regularise contract staff under service rules, bring outsourced workers onto contract, and cancel police cases registered against employees during earlier protests. The union general secretary said the government had not yet made contract staff permanent despite earlier promises, Akashvani reported. Bhaskar quoted leaders as saying they had held six protests in 2026 without getting the demands met.

Warning for the Assembly session

Punjabi Jagran reported that the union warned it would gherao the Vidhan Sabha session and stage an indefinite sit-in outside Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's residence if the demands are not met. The Punjab Assembly session is on October 22. The union has also backed the Joint Action Committee of government employees, who are on mass casual leave on October 21 and 22.

Government move

Punjabi Jagran's report said the Transport Minister has invited the union leaders to Chandigarh for talks after the strike began. We have not seen an outcome yet.

Are Punjab government buses running today?

Services of Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS and PRTC are badly hit by the strike; private buses and trains are the fallback. Check before travelling.

Why are the bus workers on strike?

They want contract staff made permanent, outsourced workers moved to contract and police cases from earlier protests withdrawn.

Is the strike linked to the employees' mass leave?

They are separate actions, but the bus union has extended support to the employees' Joint Action Committee, per Akashvani.