Latest news with #PunjabRoadways
Hindustan Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Roadways contractual employees call off strike after Punjab government assurance
Bus services across Punjab were hit as contractual employees of the state-owned Punjab Roadways and Pepsu Road Transportation Corporation began their three-day strike on Wednesday to press their demands, including regularisation of their jobs, abolition of contract-based hiring and induction of new buses. A view of buses parked at Amritsar Interstate Bus Terminal (ISBT) as contract workers of Punjab Roadways and PRTC (Pepsu Road Transport Corporation) strike work in Amritsar on Wednesday. (ANI) Later in the evening, the employee unions withdrew their stir following a meeting with finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema and transport minister Laljit Singh Bhullar in Chandigarh. After talks with union representatives, Cheema directed the transport department to hold a meeting with them in the next 15 days to consider their demands and submit a concrete report to the cabinet subcommittee, headed by him, to resolve their legitimate issues, according to an official statement. The finance minister assured the union leaders that the Punjab government is making every possible effort to resolve their long-pending issues. Earlier in the day, confusion and chaos prevailed at major bus stands, with many passengers unaware of the strike. In Bathinda and adjoining districts, more than 75% of buses stayed off the road and the protesters blocked the exits of various bus stands, affecting services. In Hoshiarpur, Davinder Kumar (66), a resident of Bane Di Hatti near Gagret in Himachal Pradesh, said he arrived with his wife on a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus this morning, intending to board a government bus to Gurdaspur. He was unaware of the strike and had been waiting at the bus stand for over an hour. 'I had no option but to board a packed private bus,' he said. Vishal (21), a resident of Dasuya who works in Chandigarh said. 'I was on a short leave and reached Hoshiarpur from my home town Dasuya this morning in a private bus. I've been waiting here at the bus stand for nearly an hour, but not a single private bus to Chandigarh has arrived yet,' he said. 'With government buses remaining off the roads, I have no other alternative but to rely on a private bus, whenever it comes. At the Sangrur bus stand also a passenger working in a private bank said he waited for a bus for over an hour to go to his office in Patiala. A representative of the union said they had given notice about the strike a month ago. Punjab Roadways PUNBUS and PRTC Contract Workers Union president Raminder Singh said the strike was aimed at pressing long-pending demands, including regularisation of contractual workers. In Ludhiana too, passengers bore the brunt of the strike. The union has been demanding job regularisation for around 8,200 contractual and outsourced drivers and conductors. It is also seeking the abolition of contractual hirings, rollback of the PRTC Kilometre scheme and induction of new buses in the fleet. CITU holds protest In a separate protest, hundreds of workers affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) held dharnas raising slogans against the central and state governments. In Kapurthala, nearly 200 protesters affiliated with various trade unions and Samyukt Kissan Morcha blocked vehicular traffic near the bus stand. They held a sit-in in the middle of the Kapurthala-Jalandhar road in support of their demands. The central trade unions such as CITU, INTUC and AITUC were pressing to do away with the four labour codes, contractualisation, and privatisation of PSUs. They were seeking an increase in minimum wages to ₹26,000 per month and pressing for the demands of farmer organisations for minimum support price (MSP) for crops based on the Swaminathan Commission's formula of C2 plus 50% and loan waiver. WITH INPUTS FROM AGENCIES
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Contractual employees of Punjab Roadways, PRTC call off strike after meeting state FM
Hoshiarpur/Kapurthala , Contractual employees of the state-owned Punjab Roadways and Pepsu Road Transportation Corporation on Wednesday evening called off their three-day strike following a meeting with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar in Chandigarh. Contractual employees of Punjab Roadways, PRTC call off strike after meeting state FM The meeting came after contractual employees struck work earlier in the day to press their demands, including regularisation of their jobs, causing inconvenience to commuters. Over 2,500 buses of Punjab Roadways and Pepsu Road Transportation Corporation stayed off the roads, the protesting employees said. After talks with union representatives, Cheema directed the transport department to hold a meeting with them in the next 15 days to consider their demands and submit a concrete report to the cabinet subcommittee, headed by him, to resolve their legitimate issues, according to an official statement. Following this directive, the striking union announced the withdrawal of the stir. The finance minister assured the union leaders that the Punjab government is making every possible effort to resolve their issues that have been pending for decades. Many passengers, who were unaware of the strike call, faced inconvenience at various bus stands in the state and were delayed to their respective destinations. The strike was called by the Punjab Roadways, Punbus, PRTC Contract Workers' Union to press the state government to accept their long pending demands of regularisation of jobs of contractual drivers and conductors, abolition of contract-based hiring and induction of new buses. The protesters held demonstrations at bus depots in the state, demanding that the state government accept their demands. Many passengers were left stranded at bus stands, with some forced to wait for hours or opt for overcrowded private buses. In Hoshiarpur, Davinder Kumar , a resident of Bane Di Hatti near Gagret in Himachal Pradesh, said he arrived with his wife on a Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus this morning, intending to board a government bus to Gurdaspur. He was unaware of the strike by the Punjab government buses and had been waiting at the bus stand for over an hour, hoping to catch another government bus to Gurdaspur. "I prefer to travel in government buses, but after coming to know about the strike, I had no option but to board a packed private bus," he said, adding that he was on his way to Gurdaspur to offer prayers on the occasion of Guru Purnima. Vishal , a resident of Dasuya who works in Chandigarh and was visiting home on a short leave, also expressed his frustration. He said he had reached Hoshiarpur from Dasuya this morning in a private bus. "I've been waiting here at the bus stand for nearly an hour, but not a single private bus to Chandigarh has arrived yet," he said. "With government buses remaining off the roads, I have no other alternative but to rely on a private bus, whenever it comes." Private bus operators were seen doing brisk business as the absence of government-run buses led to a surge in demand on several routes. At the Sangrur bus stand, a passenger working in a private bank said he waited for a bus for over an hour to go to his office in Patiala. A representative of the Union said they had given notice about the strike a month ago. Meanwhile, members of the Punjab Subordinate Services Federation, led by Satish Rana, and the Punjab Roadways PUNBUS and PRTC Contract Workers Union, led by its president Raminder Singh, held a sit-in at a bus stand in support of their demands and to protest against the new labour codes. Speaking during the protest, Raminder Singh said the strike was aimed at pressing long-pending demands, including regularisation of contractual workers in Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS and PRTC. In a separate protest, hundreds of workers affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions , led by general secretary Mohinder Singh Badoan, took out a march from Green View Park to the bus stand and held a dharna, raising slogans against the central and state governments. In Kapurthala, nearly 200 protesters affiliated to various trade unions and Samyukt Kissan Morcha blocked vehicular traffic near the bus stand. They held a sit-in in the middle of the Kapurthala-Jalandhar road in support of their demands. The central trade unions such as CITU, INTUC and AITUC were pressing for doing away with the four labour codes, contractualisation, and privatisation of PSUs. They were seeking an increase in minimum wages to ₹26,000 per month and pressing for the demands of farmer organisations for Minimum Support Price for crops based on the Swaminathan Commission's formula of C2 plus 50 per cent and loan waiver. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
21-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Roadways conductor ‘thrashed' by pvt operators; union halts buses
Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at the Ludhiana interstate bus stand on Saturday after contractual workers of the Punjab Roadways abruptly halted bus services for nearly an hour from 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm. The shutdown was prompted in protest against police 'inaction' over an alleged assault on a Roadways conductor — Surendra Kumar — by private bus staff on the bus stand premises. Passengers stranded at Ludhiana bus stand after contractual workers halted the buses during a protest in Ludhiana on Saturday. (Gurpreet Singh/HT) The workers stalled the movement of all buses to and from the terminal during the protest. The sudden disruption triggered traffic chaos outside the bus stand as several buses got stuck in a haphazard manner at the terminal and on adjoining roads, hampering the regular flow of traffic. Shamsher Singh Dhillon, state general secretary of the Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC Contractual Workers' Union, said, 'On Friday night, some private bus staff heading to Delhi assaulted Punjab Roadways conductor Surendra Kumar who was on duty in a Ferozepur depot bus going to Chandigarh.' 'When the bus halted at Ludhiana bus stand at around 9.30 pm, a migrant family, unfamiliar with the city, asked conductor Surendra Kumar for help in boarding a bus as they had to go to Bareilly. While he was assisting them, staff of a private bus tried to forcefully take the family into their Delhi-bound bus. When Kumar resisted, they misbehaved with him and then brutally assaulted him,' he said. A written complaint was submitted to the police station at the bus stand, but the authorities failed to take timely action, Dhillon said, adding that the bus operations were halted at around 2.30 pm on Saturday. Subhash Chandra, in-charge of the bus stand police post, said, 'We received a formal complaint and have summoned both parties. The matter has now been resolved mutually.' When contacted, Navraj Batish, general manager of Punjab Roadways, stated, 'The shutdown took place without any prior notice, despite the police already investigating the issue. Such sudden disruptions cause heavy losses to the government. Whoever is responsible must bear the consequences.' The protest caught daily commuters off guard, leaving many stranded without any alternatives. Shanvi Verma, a CA aspirant from Jagraon, said, 'I travel to Ludhiana daily for my coaching classes. When I reached the bus stand after finishing my classes, I found out that the buses were not operating. I feel stuck with no transport in sight.' Echoing similar sentiments, Harjinder Gill, a commuter heading to Bathinda, said, 'My uncle is hospitalised and I had taken a half-day leave to visit him. My family is alone there. It is absurd that common people like us are forced to bear such inconveniences without any fault.'
News18
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Guess Who? From Bus Driver's Son To Global Icon With His Own Private Jet
Last Updated: Diljit Dosanjh, once a village 'kirtan' singer, made history at Coachella and Met Gala 2025, becoming a global icon and Vogue's Most Stylish Celebrity What began in the quiet streets of a village in Punjab has turned into a global phenomenon. Diljit Dosanjh, once a boy singing kirtan in Gurudwaras, is now a celebrated icon on international stages like Coachella and the Met Gala. Early Life Born on January 6, 1984, in Dosanjh Kalan, a small village in Punjab, Diljit Dosanjh was raised in a modest household. His father, Balbir Singh, worked for Punjab Roadways, and his mother, Sukhwinder Kaur, is a homemaker. His first encounters with music were spiritual, as he sang devotional hymns in local Gurudwaras. Remarkable Rise To Fame Diljit Dosanjh's ascent was slow but steady. He gained acclaim for his acting in Jatt and Juliet (2012), Punjab 1984 (2014), Udta Punjab (2016), Phillauri (2017), Soorma (2018), and Amar Singh Chamkila (2024). Simultaneously, his music reached global audiences with hits like Lover, Do You Know, 5 Taara, Proper Patola, and Born to Shine. Journey From Village Singer To International Icon In 2023, Diljit made history as the first Punjabi artist to perform at Coachella, one of the world's most prestigious music festivals. Today, he is considered among the wealthiest Punjabi entertainers, with a reported net worth of Rs 172 crore, according to the Hindustan Times. His success extends beyond music and film. In May 2025, Diljit made his debut at the Met Gala, one of fashion's most high-profile events. Dressed in an ivory-gold sherwani, turban, and a flowing cape adorned with the map of Punjab and Gurmukhi script, he represented his roots with pride. He was voted the 'Most Stylish Celebrity at Met Gala 2025' by Vogue readers, surpassing global style icons such as Zendaya, Rihanna, and Nicki Minaj. Despite his luxurious lifestyle, including a private jet, California duplex, and luxury car collection, Diljit remains grounded, continuing to embody the values of humility, culture, and raw talent that first won him love in his village streets. First Published:
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana:Private operators bleeding PRTC dry, alleges union
Amid the ongoing induction of 200 new buses under the kilometre scheme, fierce opposition has erupted from workers of the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC). In a letter submitted to chief minister Bhagwant Mann and senior transport officials on May 7, workers, under the banner of the Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and PRTC contractual workers union alleged that the kilometre scheme has become a tool for corruption, siphoning off public funds and systematically weakening the state's own transport network. The Kilometre Scheme, under which private bus operators are paid, based on the number of kilometres covered on the government-issued permits, has long drawn criticism from employees and activists. The scheme launched as a public-private partnership model to ease the financial burden of expanding the state-run bus fleet, allows PRTC to invite private bus owners to run their vehicles on government-assigned routes. The scheme eliminates the need for the government to invest in purchasing new buses. Under this model, the private operator provides the vehicle, hires the driver, and bears all maintenance and fuel costs. PRTC, in turn, deploys its own conductors and handles route scheduling. The transport department pays the operator a fixed rate per kilometre, usually ranging between ₹9 to ₹10.5 depending on the bus type and year of agreement. A bus covering 15,000 km in a month could earn its owner nearly ₹1.5 lakh. However, union leaders argue that the scheme is neither cost-effective nor employment-friendly in the long term. Shamsher Singh Dhillon, state general secretary of the union, said, 'The scheme was introduced with the claim of creating jobs for unemployed youth. But how can a jobless person afford to invest ₹15–20 lakh in buying a bus? Also, the drivers are hired by private operators, and there is no regulatory check on their skill or conduct, unlike government-hired drivers. In case of mishaps, it is the PRTC's credibility that suffers.' Rising costs, no lasting gains According to the union, a private bus running 10,000 km a month under this scheme, earns around ₹93,500, while one covering 15,000 km earns upwards of ₹1.4 lakh. Over six years, a single private bus could cost the transport department close to ₹1 crore, without contributing to the creation of a public asset. 'In contrast,' the union noted, 'a government-owned bus costs around ₹30 lakh and remains in service for up to 15 years, while generating employment for drivers, conductors, and maintenance staff.' 'This is not about efficiency or economy. It's about siphoning public money in the name of convenience while sidelining our own workforce,' a senior union member added. Union warns agitation The union has issued a warning that if Kilometre Scheme buses are inducted again, they will launch a full-scale agitation. 'No private bus under this scheme will be allowed to ply on government routes. The administration will be held responsible for any disruption in public transport,' the union declared. Acknowledging the ongoing induction, PRTC chairman Ranjodh Singh Hadana said, 'We floated the tender for 200 new buses under the Kilometre Scheme at the end of February. So far, PRTC has received around 80 buses.' He further added that the remaining 120 buses are expected to be inducted soon. However, when asked about the allegations of corruption and malpractice under the scheme, he refused to comment.
