BEST buses lying idle at a depot in Mumbai as drivers, conductors continue strike
Mumbai's bus nightmare continues for a second day despite a High Court order that a strike by drivers and conductors of public buses is illegal and they must return to work immediately.
(Bus strike illegal, get to work now, says Bombay High Court)The bus unions say they will appeal against the High Court order.
Almost 26,000 drivers and conductors did not turn up for work again today, causing huge distress during rush hour on Tuesday morning, as stranded commuters tried to get to work, school and other places.
Many schools have examinations at this time and harassed parents had to depend on other, more expensive public transport to get children to school on time.
The BEST or Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport employees are protesting against a new roster that calls for longer working hours. The strike began on Monday morning.
BEST moved the high court yesterday, which ordered the protesters to call off their strike and report to work by 5 pm. With the unions refusing to comply with the court orders, the government is now considering invoking ESMA or the Essential Services Maintenance Act.
It has also brought in more private buses and those from state roadways to ease the situation.
The BEST runs a fleet of 3,380 buses on 335 routes and ferries over 40 lakh passengers daily in Mumbai and its suburbs of Navi Mumbai, Thane and Mira Road.
These buses are also the main connecting service for Mumbai's local trains, considered the city's lifeline.
BEST workers fear that their duty hours will increase from eight to 12 hours in a new computerised schedule that came into effect on April 1.