Ludhiana, July 6 -- Private bus operators in Ludhiana have raised serious concerns over the unfair allocation of bus timings on permitted routes, accusing the authorities of systematically shortening or deleting their slots from the official timetable. They claim that this has forced several of their vehicles off the roads and into long-term idling, despite holding valid route permits, fitness certificates, and tax receipts.

In a formal letter dated May 13 and June 21 to the Punjab transport department, the operators alleged that their buses were excluded from revised timetables without any prior notice or opportunity for a hearing. They further claimed that the regional transport authorities (RTAs) in Jalandhar and Patiala, in alleged c...