In Mumbai, the city’s BEST bus services are facing a major disruption as drivers from certain bus operators have gone on strike to demand higher salaries. This strike has resulted in the absence of around 1,008 buses from the roads, causing inconvenience to thousands of commuters in Mumbai and its suburbs.
Drivers Strike Leaves Commuters Stranded
The strike has left approximately 1,008 buses operated by different bus operators, including SMT (Daga Group), Mateshwari, and Tata Motors, idle at 12 depots. This has led to significant disruptions in the bus services across various areas in Mumbai and its suburbs, leaving many commuters stranded and struggling to find alternative means of transportation.
Out of the total fleet of 3,082 buses owned by BEST, 1,642 buses are under a wet lease through five contractors, namely Maruti, Matoshree, Tata, Hansa, and others. The strike’s most significant impact has been on the buses operated by Maruti (473 buses), Matoshree (369 buses), and Tata Motors (155 buses). The strike initially started when drivers from SMT protested at the Ghatkopar and Mulund depots, and it quickly gained momentum as drivers from other private bus operators joined the strike, leading to a widespread disruption in services.
Drivers Demand Fair Salary Increase
The striking drivers are demanding a salary hike, stating that they have not received a raise in the last three years, making it difficult for them to cover their daily expenses.They argue that their current salaries are significantly lower compared to those of employees directly working for BEST. They seek a fair wage that reflects their responsibilities and the rising cost of living.
BEST’s Response and Legal Action
In response to the strike, BEST has announced its intention to take legal action against the striking companies. As a temporary measure, some buses from Colaba depots were diverted to cover affected routes, but this has led to increased waiting times for passengers in South Mumbai. BEST officials are closely monitoring the situation and working towards finding a resolution that addresses the drivers’ demands while restoring normalcy to bus services.
BEST authorities are actively seeking a resolution to the situation and working towards restoring regular bus services to minimize the inconvenience faced by the affected commuters.