Mumbai: BEST bus services hit for second day

The Magathane depot was one of 12 where contractual staff refused to work. Pic/Anurag Ahire

There was chaos and major inconveniences caused to commuters using BEST bus services as private leased employees - who currently operate a large number of the buses - went on a strike for the second consecutive day on Thursday.

College student Rinka Shah could not take her regular bus route 370 from Mulund railway station to Vaze college. She had to shell out Rs 23 for the commute which usually costs her Rs 6. Meanwhile, scores of commuters were left stranded for a long time on the Eastern and Western Express Highways as the bus frequency remained erratic, and buses plying on several routes did not turn up.

Services were severely hit as the private leased staff at 12 depots - Worli, Pratkisha Nagar, Anik, Deonar, Dharavi, Shivaji Nagar, Ghatkopar, Mulund, Majas, Santacruz, Gorai and Magathane - refused to work.

"We went to the bus stop and waited as usual without knowing there was an unannounced strike for the second day. Some buses were seen operating so there was no way to find out," commuter Ramgharat Dinesh Goyal said. Another commuter, Shipra Kanse said, "No wonder private operators are taking the lead over BEST buses despite the undertaking once being a trusted and reliable service operator," said the old-time commuter.

A BEST spokesperson confirmed that only 662 of 1,671 buses had left the depots by evening. The undertaking has said it will penalise contractors and levy fines of R5,000 per bus per day as long as the strike continues. Mulund MLA Mihir Kotecha said he raised the issue in the assembly. "Thousands of commuters in Mumbai have been inconvenienced. I ought the government's intervention," he said.