Mumbai: Strike by drivers of private operators hired by BEST enters 7th day; 551 buses remain off roads

File photo/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

The strike by drivers of buses wet-leased by Mumbai's civic transport utility Brihamnumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) has extended into its seventh day, with 551 out of over 1,600 buses still not in operation on Tuesday morning, according to officials.

As citizens continued to experience inconvenience, the drivers of private bus operators persisted in their protest, demanding salary increases and pay parity equivalent to BEST employees.

Mumbai's guardian minister, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, announced on Monday that the affected BEST bus services would be reinstated within the next 24 to 48 hours.

The ongoing strike has caused difficulties for commuters as the reduced number of operational buses has led to decreased service frequency, resulting in overcrowded buses.

Some commuters have also reported difficulties in finding auto-rickshaws and taxis to reach their destinations.

Sunil Vaidya, spokesperson for Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), stated that the public transport body operated 645 wet-leased buses with its own drivers on various routes, in addition to operating around 1,390 of its own buses. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), a state-owned entity, has deployed 210 buses from different depots of BEST to minimize inconvenience for commuters.

The majority of drivers from seven private bus operators that have leased their buses to BEST have been on strike since August 2, demanding salary hikes and other concessions, including free rides on BEST buses.

Meanwhile, a group of protesting employees from private bus operators contracted by BEST have demanded permanent positions within the civic-run transportation system. During a press conference on Monday, they emphasized the need for permanent jobs for those who couldn't be absorbed permanently and requested "equal remuneration" comparable to BEST employees due to the similar workload they manage.

They also indicated that the strike would not end without a dialogue with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, as they believed the Chief Minister would address their demands.

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Vaidya stated that the wet-leased bus operators were urged to swiftly address the issues by negotiating with their employees. The BEST is also taking action against the bus operators based on the terms and conditions outlined in the agreements.

In response to the strike, the state government authorized all public service vehicles, including taxis, auto-rickshaws, and school buses, to perform stage carriage operations, allowing them to pick up and drop passengers multiple times.

The BEST undertaking, responsible for public bus services in Mumbai and surrounding areas, has leased over 1,600 buses from various contractors using a wet lease model. In this model, the private operator bears responsibility for vehicle ownership, maintenance, fuel, and driver costs. The public transport body serves over 30 lakh commuters on its buses in Mumbai and neighboring areas, using a fleet of more than 3,100 buses, of which less than 1,400 are owned by BEST. (PTI)