Commuters in Mumbai had to face a crunch during the morning rush hours on Friday as only a few buses of Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) were seen on the roads.
Buses are the lifeline of the busy city and one of the most widely used means of transportation. They generally run at a frequency of about 10-15 minutes, and even less in some cases, but an indefinite staff strike has forced buses off the roads, leaving many passengers stranded.
According to news agency PTI, only 32 of the 2,766 BEST buses were on Mumbai roads during peak hours this morning. Most BEST buses are chartered from private operators on a wet lease basis.
While 38 buses were able to leave various depots across Mumbai, six of them had to return after incidents of stone pelting and obstruction of workflow by striking employees.
With buses disappearing from the roads, commuters had to opt for local trains, metro services, auto rickshaws, taxis and app-based cabs.
Why is it called a strike?
Afzal Sanyukt Kamgarh Kruti Samiti, a joint action committee of 12 unions, called the strike, which began after midnight on Thursday.
And here A List of employee demands (as per PTI report).
- Merging the BEST budget with the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) budget.
- One-time settlement of legal entitlements for retired employees.
- Implementing the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission for the period 2016-2026.
- – Cancellation of contractual arrangements in the transportation and electricity departments.
- Absorption of BEST’s wet-lease bus workers.
Stranded passengers, former MP writes to Fadnavis
BEST is the second largest public transport provider in Mumbai after the suburban railway network. The strike began despite an interim court order against it and the Maharashtra government invoking the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) to prevent disruption of essential services.
Naturally, the strike affected passengers greatly. “During weekdays, I travel to work by public transport, but today I took my bike as there were no buses on the roads,” Sachin Nalawade, who works as a consultant, told PTI.
Amid the ongoing strike, former Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewal wrote to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asking him to intervene. Chawali also pointed out that thousands of medical aspirants will appear to retake the NEET exam on June 21, and that the strike may affect their travel.
He urged the state government to make immediate alternative transportation arrangements, including private transportation services and school buses, so that students do not miss their examinations due to transportation problems.
