Traffic crippled, markets, industry remain unaffected

THE BANDH SAW DISRUPTIONS ACROSS 70 ROUTES, WITH 600 STATE-OWNED BUSES, 150 FROM OTHER STATES & 950 PVT OPERATORS STAYING OFF ROADS

- Rakshit Sharma

LUDHIANA: The usually bustling Ludhiana bus stand appeared deserted on Monday as over 1,700 buses, both state-owned and private, ceased operations in solidarity with the farmers' Punjab Bandh call, leaving hundreds of commuters stranded in the biting cold.

The bandh saw disruptions across 70 routes, with 600 state-owned buses, 150 from other states, and 950 private operators staying off the roads in Ludhiana.

The standstill occurred after the Punjab Roadways/Punbus/PRTC contract workers' union supported the farmers' bandh on Saturday, endorsing their demands as legitimate. While the union had initially announced that buses would halt operations from 10 am to 2 pm, services were unexpectedly suspended from as early as 7 am on Monday morning.

Passengers' plight Dharmendra Kumar, a traveller heading to Delhi, said: "I was excited to meet my friends to celebrate the New Year with them. I've been waiting for the bus since 6.30 am, but now I have no choice but to go back. I can't endure this biting cold any longer, especially with no sign of services resuming."

Amandeep, another passenger hoping to catch a bus to Patiala, said, "I came to visit my ailing friend on Sunday, and now I'm stuck here with nowhere to go. I never expected such a hassle when I set out."