LUDHIANA, Sept. 10 -- The contractual workers of Punjab Roadways and PRTC have announced a two-hour shutdown of bus stands across Punjab from 12 pm to 2 pm in protest against non-payment of August salaries. The protest is expected to keep 2,500 to 3,000 buses off the roads, affecting commuters statewide.

The protest has been called by the Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and PRTC Contractual Workers Union, which represents nearly 7,500 outsourced and contractual employees, including about 4,000 under PRTC and 3,500 with Punjab Roadways.

According to the union, salaries that were typically paid in the first week of the following month are now being delayed for several weeks, leading to repeated protests.

"It has been over two weeks and we still...