Punjab Contract Workers Strike July 9-11; Odisha Drivers’ Protest Causes Fuel Shortages, Rs 1600 Commuter Cost Increase

Contract workers of Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS, and PRTC initiated a three-day strike from July 9 to 11 across multiple locations in Punjab, including Pathankot, Amritsar, Moga, and Sangrur. The strike involved protests and road blockades, causing disruptions in transport services. The Punjab Roadways PUNBUS Contractual Workers Union issued a final ultimatum to the government a week prior, which went unheeded. Meanwhile, in Odisha, the Driver Mahasangha's indefinite strike entered its third day, severely disrupting vehicular movement and petrol tanker supplies in cities such as Angul, Cuttack, Brahmapur, and Bhubaneswar. The strike has led to fuel shortages and long queues at fuel stations, as commuters rushed to fill their tanks amid halted transport services. Officials from the Odisha Drivers Federation and Bus Employees Union stated that the government has not yet accepted their demands, and the strike will continue until their issues are addressed. Commuters reported increased travel costs due to the transport shutdowns.