Mohali, Feb 12: The two-day strike by contract workers of Punjab Roadways and the PRTC has been called off following a successful second round of negotiations between union leaders and Transport Department officials. Bus services across the state are expected to return to full capacity by Friday morning, providing significant relief to commuters who faced severe travel disruptions.
The breakthrough came after the state authorities agreed to reinstate several staff members who had been terminated in November. Harkesh Vicky, state vice-president of the PRTC Contractual Employees’ Union, noted that the protest has been suspended for the time being based on these assurances from the government.
“The drivers are returning to work and the fleet will be fully operational on Friday morning,” Vicky mentioned during a statement on the resolution. He further noted that the authorities have committed to the early release of ten employees currently in jail following arrests made in December.
The strike coincided with a ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by various trade and farmers’ unions, which had compounded the difficulties for the public. Approximately 8,000 workers across 27 depots had stayed away from duty, bringing passenger transport to a virtual standstill for 48 hours.
The union leadership mentioned that they are maintaining a vigilant stance on the implementation of the agreed terms. Vicky said that if the promises regarding reinstatements and the release of jailed workers are not honored, the union will resume the strike.
Transport services remained paralyzed throughout Thursday as road blockades and dharnas related to the broader nationwide protest further disrupted traffic in several districts, including Patiala. However, with the internal department compromise reached, the state’s primary public transport fleet is now ready to resume operations.
