The bus commuters were a harried lot on Sunday as the employees of state transport undertakings (STUs) — Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) and Punjab Roadways — observed a day’s strike. They were seen waiting for the bus for hours at the bus terminals as majority of the STUs buses, that makes around 50 per cent, remained off roads.

The protesting employees, demanding the reinstatement of the conductor sacked for alleged dereliction of duty, had announced to intensify their protest on Monday if demand was not met.

The passengers blamed both the roadways authorities and the employees for making the passengers suffer in a fight between them. Many were seen lashing out at the government for making no alternate arrangements for the thousands of passengers if the employees had announced to observe the strike.

As per available information, the expulsion of a conductor by Punjab Roadways management for dereliction of duty was said to become the flashpoint of the current strike. The roadways authorities claimed that the conductor was found guilty of wrong practices, while the employees counter-claimed that there was no fault of the said conductor.

It has been learned that a conductor of Batala Depot was fired after two passengers of the bus were found without ticket by the checking inspectors. The incident reportedly took place on November 1.

PRTC authorities maintained that they have been holding negotiations with the PRTC employees to get them back on work as the issue pertains with Punjab roadways.