On Tuesday, employees of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) went on strike due to which thousands of people, mainly, commuters faced problems like delays in travelling. The strike occurred due to some demands of the BEST employees.
Mumbai BEST Employees’ Strike LIVE Updates
According to local people, there was a huge queue of commuters near the BEST bus stops. Most people were mainly heading to their office. The BEST employees incurred strike after midnight on Monday. Authorities granted some of the private buses to transport passengers but still they were insufficient for the huge crowd of commuters.
Anamika Saxena, a Ghatkopar resident said, “I have been waiting for 30 minutes. Two private buses had come but the passenger queue is just too long.”
Not only were the working class commuters affected by this strike but also the children, who were seen waiting for the buses at BEST bus stops with their parents were affected by the strike.
“I have been waiting for 20 minutes but there is no sight of any BEST bus. Auto-rickshaws are charging a lot. The only hope is private buses,” Amna Khan from Bandra said.
Many commuters also complained of being overcharged by auto-rickshaw drivers. As when the strike occurred, most of the people preferred travelling through auto-rickshaws.
“I take a shared auto from Bandra station to BKC every day for Rs 20. Today for the same journey the auto rickshaw drivers are charging Rs 30 to 40 per seat,” said Kunal Gupta, Khar resident.
Mumbaikars also posted in social networking sites, such as twitter, saying there was less traffic seen on roads due to the non-operation of BEST buses. While the auto-rickshaws and taxis were overcharging, less people travelled through them.
“@BESTMumbai thank you for being on strike traffic there is less on roads I think Maha govt should close best buses as it is running in kiss & why should Mumbikar bare your loss @CMOMaharashtra please look into thus & close BEST service asap as it is mumbaikar don’t care (sic),” tweeted a user on handle Vijay68200965.
“#BEST buses completely off roads as union has called for indefinite #strike in Mumbai. No alternate arrangements at #Kurla. Auto Ricksha charges 20,30 & 100 seat…. plan your travel (sic),” another user @mandar2005 tweeted.
The strike was called by BEST Sanyukta Kamgar Kruti Samiti (BSKKS). BSKKS is a joint action committee of several labour unions. BSKKS demands higher pay to the employees that are recruited since 2007. On Tuesday at 7 am, BEST authorities declared the non-operation of all the 27 bus depots. Only eight drivers out of 2,200 were reported working during the strike. On the other hand, out of 2,259 bus conductors, only one bus conductor was reported working.
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