Mumbai commuters hit as BEST workers launch indefinite strike

Mumbai’s public transport network faced major disruption on Friday after employees of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking launched an indefinite strike, severely affecting bus services across the city and inconveniencing hundreds of thousands of commuters.

Hardly any buses were able to leave the 27 BEST depots across Mumbai in the morning. According to reports, striking employees prevented buses from leaving depots, forcing commuters to depend on alternative modes of transport such as autorickshaws, taxis, app-based cabs and the Metro during peak morning hours.

The strike, called by the BEST Sanyukt Kamgar Kruti Samiti, a joint action committee comprising 12 unions, began despite an ad-interim order issued by an industrial court restraining employees from going on strike. The Maharashtra government had also invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA), which prohibits disruption of essential services.

The escalation follows disruption reported on Thursday, when BEST officials said only 32 buses were operating on city roads during the morning, compared with the usual turnout of thousands of buses. Six buses that had initially left depots in the early hours were later forced to return after incidents of stone-pelting were reported.

The BEST undertaking has not yet issued an official statement detailing the exact impact of the strike.

Among the key demands raised by workers are the merger of BEST’s budget with that of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a one-time settlement of pending dues of retired employees, implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations for the 2016-2026 period, abolition of contractual arrangements in the transport and electricity departments, and absorption of wet-lease bus workers into BEST.

BEST is Mumbai’s second-largest public transport provider after the suburban railway network and carries around 25 lakh passengers daily through its bus services. The undertaking also supplies electricity to more than 10 lakh consumers in south and central Mumbai.

The civic transport body currently operates around 2,700 buses, most of which are hired from private operators under wet-lease arrangements.

Mumbai Police have warned of legal action against anyone obstructing transport services, damaging BEST property or preventing willing employees from reporting for duty. Earlier on Thursday, police had also cautioned protesters against damaging BEST buses and depot property during the strike, stating that appropriate legal action would be taken against those involved in vandalism or violence.

Meanwhile, the Shramik Utkarsh Sabha and the BEST Kamgar Union, which represent a section of employees, have distanced themselves from the agitation. The unions said discussions with the administration and the Maharashtra government are continuing in an effort to resolve the workers’ grievances.

The strike has left commuters across Mumbai facing significant inconvenience, with many scrambling for alternative transport options as bus services remain severely affected.

(With inputs from agencies)