16-Hour-Long Mumbai BEST Bus Strike Called Off

Mumbai: Hours after 3,800 buses of the Bombay Electric Supply and Transport or BEST went off roads in Mumbai, with workers protesting over disbursal of salaries, the strike has been called off.

The withdrawal came after the intervention of Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray, who met leaders of the nine BEST employees unions leaders, including Shashank S Rao, at his residence.

Mr Thackeray is understood to have given a commitment that the employees demands will be met, including payment of salaries on time.

The strike was to press for various demands, including irregular payments of salaries by the BEST, run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corp or BMC.

The entire fleet of 3,800 buses remained in depots across the city since midnight as employees associated with nine unions stayed off duty, leaving over 30 lakh passengers stranded on the day of Raksha Bandhan when the demand for public transport has soared.

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The workers reportedly haven't received their salaries in the last three months. The BEST employees and the BMC administration have been at the loggerheads over the issue.

Shashank Rao said that the employees want their salaries on time and an undertaking for the same by the BMC, which governs the civic transport and electricity provider public body.

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta and the ruling Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray had yesterday called an urgent meeting with the various unions, but the talks remained inconclusive.

"We wanted a written assurance from the BMC, but that didn't happen. So we decided not to report to duty from midnight. No bus will ply today," Mr Rao said.

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He also demanded all the facilities for BEST workers that BMC employees are entitled to. "We want a letter from the civic commissioner admitting that BEST is very much part of BMC. We aren't calling off the strike until we are given a written assurance," he added.

Mr Rao has also warned that other unions, including the autorickshaw unions, will participate in the strike, if needed.

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According to BEST officials, in the last 12 years, the fleet has swelled, while the number of commuters boarding the buses has gone down from 40 lakh till a few years ago to 30 lakh now. Being a government undertaking, the body provides subsidised services to commuters.

BEST general manager Surendrakumar Bagade has, however, promised that the body will pay their salaries before August 10.

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"We will pay their salaries by the 10th of every month. We have taken this decision irrespective of the financial crisis BEST is facing at the moment," he said.

Meanwhile, Mumbaikars are being forced to pay through their nose for an autorickshaw or taxi ride due to BEST bus strike. Many of them are charging the commuters much more than the actual bill.

The Maharashtra State Roads Development Corporation has deployed state transport buses in some key sectors to tackle the rush, while private buses have been permitted to carry regular commuters. School buses, cars owned by corporation and goods vehicles have also been pressed into service.