Commuters at varied locations within the state continued to have a horrid time for the third consecutive day in Punjab as authorities buses went off roads following a strike referred to as by the contract staff’ union of the Punjab Roadways and PEPSU Road Transport Corporation (PRTC).

The contract staff are protesting in opposition to the outsourcing of 28 drivers and for regularizing their employment. Leading to crowded bus stands with folks jostling for seats in personal buses, the connectivity was badly affected because of the strike.

People touring from Ludhiana for work and vice versa had a horrid time.

Deepika from Chandigarh mentioned, “I got here from Chandigarh all the best way standing in a non-public bus. There had been only a few authorities buses coming to Ludhiana. So, I boarded a non-public bus however there was not a single seat left because the bus was totally packed.”

Another Passenger Gurjit Singh said, “I came from Kapurthala to Ludhiana in a private bus. I waited for bus for an hour. I got late for my work due to bus connectivity.”

Union president for Ludhiana depot Satnam Singh said almost 100 buses have been stopped. “We appeal to the government to fulfill our demands. The outsourcing of as many as 28 drivers in the department will not only affect us but it will put the lives of people in danger as new recruitment on outsourcing is done without any trial or driving test.”

Addressing the workers from the gate of city depot, general secretary Gurpreet Baraich said, “Government is not paying any attention to the demands of contract workers. Today, the strike continued for the third day over the recruitment of 28 drivers through outsourcing but the government doesn’t seem serious about our issues.”

Giving particulars, state common secretary of the union Shamsher Singh mentioned, “Our assembly with transport authorities will probably be held on Monday. We predict that the federal government will fulfill our calls for. The PRTC staff can even be a part of the strike on Monday.

Meanwhile, common supervisor Punjab roadways Ludhiana Navraj Batish mentioned, “50% buses had been plying at present. Out of whole 107 PUNBUS buses, solely 40 had been plying. Along with this, 17 PRTC buses had been additionally operating on their routes. After calculating the bills, we now have received lack of round 4 lakh resulting from strike in final three days.