Patiala: The Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC Contract Workers Union on Tuesday called off its strike after reaching a written agreement with the Punjab govt following talks with senior transport officials.The strike had disrupted Punbus services for two days, while PRTC employees were scheduled to halt operations from Tuesday afternoon. The proposed shutdown was averted after the govt invited union representatives for talks shortly before the deadline.The meeting, chaired by the principal secretary, transport, was attended by senior department officials and union representatives.According to union functionary Harkesh Kumar alias Vicky, the govt agreed to initiate the process of withdrawing cases against arrested protesters and to send the relevant proposal to the home department within three days.On the issue of regularisation, the department agreed to forward its report to the personnel department and consider outsourced workers with three or more years of service for contractual absorption. Both issues are to be addressed within a month, the union said.The govt also assured the union that new state-owned buses would begin arriving within a month and that no expansion of kilometre-scheme bus operations would be undertaken. The scheme is currently under a court stay.The union said a meeting with the transport minister would be held within the next few days to discuss issues relating to blacklisted employees and rejected appeals. "The department has given its commitment in writing and has assumed responsibility for resolving the pending issues," Vicky said.The union, however, warned that it would resume agitation if the assurances were not implemented.Bus services are expected to resume on all routes immediately.