Mumbai: Mumbai local trains are heading towards their normal schedules. After a meeting with the Home Minister RR Patil, hundreds of motormen agreed to end their strike and go back to work. They've been demanding better pay and facilities. (
Watch: Motormen's demands would be considered, says R R Patil)
A committee will be formed to decide on the demands of the motormen by June 15.
The decision comes at the end of a harrowing Tuesday for Mumbai with quiet offices, empty train stations, jam-packed roads.
Please return to work, appealed the General Managers of the Western and Railway lines at a press conference at 4.30 pm.
Eighty of the trains on the Central and Western lines were cancelled through the day. Between them, the two lines usually run 3300 trains on a normal day for more than 60 lakh commuters.
Whether to apply ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act) remained a delicate issue. The Act means that any government employee who does not return to work can be arrested. The central government sanctioned the enforcement of ESMA, but Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said it would be "the last option."
In Parliament, the Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee came under severe criticism for the strike. What made matters worse for her was that she wasn't present to take questions from angry Maharashtra MPs who joined forces across party-lines to ask what was being done to help commuters.
The Maharashtra government took the striking motormen to court. The Bombay High court is considering the case, but the judge has slammed the government for forcing motormen to put in overtime. Not only is this exploitative, said the judge, but it also endangers commuter safety. (
Read: Mumbai train strike leaves several offices empty)
Offices in Mumbai reported up to 90% absenteeism.
But those Mumbaikars who had to get to work had a tough time braving crowded roads and not enough public transport. The government had organized buses at most major stations, but there weren't enough, said commuters. Without trains to get to work, taxi drivers also chose to stay home. With cabs in short supply, the government made an exception, allowing taxis to accommodate more than three passengers. (
More trouble for Mumbai, Meru cabs on strike)
The Chief Minister had said that all college exams in the city would be postponed if the situation does improve by Tuesday evening.
Twenty motormen have been fired; another 170 have been detained for protesting at Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST). (
Read: 170 striking motormen taken into custody)
And despite holding the city to ransom, they seemed to enjoy the sympathy of Mumbai. Commuters who spoke to NDTV in different parts of the city agreed that they should be granted the better pay and facilities that they're demanding. (
Watch: Mumbaikars wait for resolution at stations)