A total of 1,375 buses went off the roads at 18 depots across Mumbai, severely inconveniencing nearly 14 lakh commuters. Sources said BEST was contemplating invoking stringent sections of the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (Mesma) if the strike continues for a longer period.
Also, BEST deployed its own full-time drivers to operate 360 contractual buses on busy feeder routes and sought the help of 150 MSRTC buses serving six depots. There was still a shortage of buses, leading to hardships for commuters and crowds at bus stops.
80% BEST wet lease buses off roads, long queues at stops
Almost 1,400 buses were off the roads as the BEST strike intensified on Friday. The 12 new AC electric double deckers in south Mumbai, which are popular among office-goers to Nariman Point and Cuffe Parade, also kept away.
A BEST statement to media on Friday night said, “BEST will not be able to take any decision regarding drivers’ demands and the onus is on private contractors who have hired them.” However, experts said this was “ridiculous” as the undertaking should intervene and end the deadlock as it’s eventually BEST commuters who are suffering.
“Nearly half the fleet is off the roads and there were hardly any buses for several commuters waiting at stops,” said Anil Kothari, who stood for 35-40 minutes at a stop in Sion and finally got a bus which was packed. Commuters complained of refusals and overcharging by autos-taxis.
Drivers protested outside depot gates and at Azad Maidan where the wife of one of the drivers is on hunger protest. “Drivers said they will not withdraw agitation unless their salaries (Rs 15,000 at present) are brought on a par with full-time BEST drivers (around Rs 28,000),” said J M Kahar from Sangharsh Kamgar Karmachari Union, adding the strike may continue on Saturday.
Several AC electric and CNG buses remained idle at depots such as Backbay, Colaba, Mumbai Central, Worli, Pratiksha Nagar, Anik, Dharavi, Kalakilla, Deonar, Shivaji Nagar, Ghatkopar, Mulund, Majas, Santacruz, Oshiwara, Malvani, Gorai and Magathane.
A delegation of Rashtriya Karmachari Sena, the workers’ union of Shiv Sena led by Kiran Pawaskar, met protesters at Azad Maidan and asked them to give an application of all the issues faced by drivers at workplace, saying they will be forwarded to chief minister Eknath Shinde. “The issues will be looked into by our leader, who is the CM and also heads the transport ministry,” said the union’s vice-president Dinesh Shinde.
A BEST spokesperson said three private operators, SMT, Mateshwari and Hansa, managed to operate 76, 35 and 162 buses for commuters on Friday morning, despite the majority of drivers joining the agitation.
BEST warned six contractors to resolve the issue and imposed hefty penalties which crossed Rs 1 crore.
MSRTC buses have been deployed at six depots: Shivaji Nagar, Deonar, Mulund, Ghatkopar, Magathane and Gorai.
Sources said MSRTC will charge BEST fares for the rides as per the prevailing rate per km for contractual buses. Sources also indicated that the BEST may hire private buses to cater to the needs of commuters if the strike continues.
The strike may continue on Saturday, said union leaders.
