Maharashtra: MSRTC missed 2.8 crore km of trips, lost Rs 125 crore since Oct 27

Protesting staff at Kurla depot, on Thursday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has lost 2.81 crore km of bus trips, as the strike by its employees led to cancellation of its services since October 27, officials said on Thursday. According to the estimates, it has suffered a loss of Rs 125 crore. Meanwhile, the transport minister said the MSRTC employees, who are willing to resume work, will get police protection.

Anil Parab, transport minister

Private transport operators and the MSRTC employees can resume operations without any fear, under the protection of police, Transport Minister Anil Parab told reporters after a meeting with the divisional controllers and union leaders at the corporation's headquarters on Thursday. By Thursday evening, a few buses were being prepared to ply under police protection.

Many willing to work

Parab, while addressing the media after a meeting with the divisional controllers, union leaders at the MSRTC's headquarters, claimed that several employees have messaged him that they want to end the strike and join duty but they are being stopped by others.

Strike continues for the 15th day, at Kurla ST stand, on Thursday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

"We had a meeting of divisional controllers. Many employees want to return to work, but are not being allowed, using intimidation tactics. We will not allow this and have asked the police to intervene and offer protection to all those who are willing to work," he said.

The same rule applies to private operators who earlier in the day threatened to join MSRTC staff's strike, as there was no support on the ground from the authorities. Officials said that besides the police, they had also asked RTO staff to act in coordination to keep things running. Employees from Nallasopara depot blackened the faces of a few employees from Vasai bus depot after they tried to drive three buses on Thursday morning.

Divide and rule trick

BJP leader Pravin Darekar accused Parab of using the "divide and rule" strategy. Darekar, the leader of Opposition in the state legislative council, was speaking to reporters after meeting the agitating employees who have been staging a sit-in at Azad Maidan for the past five days.

MSRTC staffers protest outside Mantralaya's rear gate, on Wednesday

"The transport minister is trying to break the strike with the help of some union leaders. He is following the strategy of ‘divide and rule' used by the British," he said. "The state government, instead of protecting the interests of MSRTC employees, is acting against them. It has no sensitivity left for them," Darekar alleged.

All the 250 bus depots of the MSRTC remained shut for the second consecutive day, on Thursday. Lakhs of passengers across the state continue to face hardship with no solution to the impasse in sight.

More employees sacked

Pravin Darekar, BJP leader

The state-run transport corporation on Thursday suspended 1,135 of its employees, taking the total suspensions to 2,053. The cash-strapped undertaking at its peak used to ferry 67 lakh passengers in a day. However, after the lockdown and subsequent losses, it started delaying and slashing salaries of employees, leading to financial crisis to employees, which triggered suicides - about 30 so far.

With inputs from Agencies

1,135
No. of staffers suspended on Thursday