Ludhiana, Dec. 31 -- Nearly 80% of regular posts in Punjab Roadways, a state transport undertaking, are lying vacant, triggering operational and administrative crisis, members of the Punjab State Ministerial Staff Union have said. Out of 5,571 sanctioned positions across 18 depots, around 4,500 remain unfilled, severely affecting bus operations, maintenance and passenger service, they said.

In Ludhiana alone, regular supervisory and technical posts including traffic manager, auto mechanical engineer, works manager, 30 inspectors and sub-inspectors and station supervisors have remained vacant for years, leading to a steady decline in service quality for thousands of daily commuters.

Raising serious concerns over what it termed "systemic ...