Mumbai: Drivers of private operators hired by BEST called off strike after 7 days

File Pic/Anurag Ahire

The strike by employees of private bus operators contracted by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) was called off on Tuesday afternoon after Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde assured them that their demands for salary hikes and other benefits would be fulfilled.

The strike, which had entered its seventh day, resulted in 551 out of the 1,600 wet-leased buses provided by the private operators going off the roads, causing inconvenience to lakhs of bus commuters.

A representative of the contractual employees announced the decision to end the strike at Azad Maidan. The delegation, led by Pradnya Khajurkar, the wife of contractual worker Raghunath Khajurkar, had met CM Shinde after midnight on Monday. Shinde reportedly assured the delegation that their demands would be met.

Vikas Kharmale, coordinator of the group of employees from private bus operators, stated, "Our primary demands about salary hike, bonus, leaves, and free bus rides have been accepted. Hence the strike has been called off."

The strike had been initiated by employees, including drivers, of the private bus operators to demand salary hikes and pay parity with BEST employees.

Mumbai guardian minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha had earlier announced that the affected BEST bus services would be restored within the next 24 to 48 hours.

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Earlier in the day, the drivers continued their strike for the seventh day on Tuesday and 551 of these more than 1,600 buses remained off roads in the morning, officials said.

While citizens continued to face hardships, drivers of the private bus operators stuck to their protest over the demand for salary hikes and pay parity with BEST employees.

Commuters have been facing a tough time due to the strike. As the number of buses plying on roads has reduced, the service frequency has been affected, resulting in the buses which are operating being overcrowded.

The BEST undertaking had leased over 1,600 buses from various contractors using a wet lease model, in which the private operators are responsible for vehicle ownership, maintenance, fuel, and driver costs. The BEST public transport body serves over 30 lakh commuters in Mumbai and nearby areas with a fleet of more than 3,100 buses. Out of these, it owns less than 1,400 buses. (Agencies)