Maharashtra govt offers interim raise to end MSRTC stir

Protesting MSRTC employees at Azad Maidan on Tuesday. Pic/Bipin Kokate

Maharashtra transport minister Anil Parab held marathon talks with the representatives of the MSRTC employees on Tuesday, and offered an interim raise till the high court-appointed committee submits its report on the corporation's merger with the state government.

"The strike needs to end and cannot continue till the HC-appointed committee submits its report. We had a talk with the protesting leaders, and offered the MSRTC employees an interim raise to end the strike. They will meet us again tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11 am for another round of talks," Parab said.

The ongoing strike is affecting everyone, the passengers, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) and the employees, and it should end fast, he added. Eleven bus depots in the Sangli division resumed operations on Tuesday. During the day, 236 buses ferried 4,227 passengers in the state.

The MSRTC suspended more employees. So far, 3,052 employees have been suspended and 645 dismissed. An official said the number of staffers reporting to work has increased to 8,343.

In a related development, around four-five Janshakti Sangathan workers, who are protesting over the MSRTC strike issue, smeared black oil paint on the official residence of Parab on Tuesday.