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Punjab Bus Strike Halted as Contract Workers Receive Assurances on Jailed Colleagues

Government assurances to free jailed union members prompted a temporary halt to the walkout.

Overview

  • Union leaders said services began returning on Thursday and the full fleet is expected to be operational by Friday morning.
  • Key demands remain unresolved, including regularisation, equal pay, reinstatements and opposition to the kilometre-based outsourcing scheme.
  • Roughly 8,000 contractual staff across 27 depots walked off the job from Wednesday noon, crippling routes and forcing passengers onto costlier private options.
  • Unions say several workers were booked under non-bailable sections in November and 34 were terminated, with authorities now agreeing to reinstate those dismissed.
  • Officials initially said disruption was limited, though the Punjab Roadways general manager later noted only about 28% of services ran during the stoppage.