Bus services in Mumbai are set to return to normal after employees of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking called off their three-day strike following discussions with Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde and transport minister Pratap Sarnaik.
The strike, supported by 12 employee unions, had brought a large part of the city’s bus network to a standstill, affecting more than 23 lakh commuters. With thousands of buses off the roads, residents were forced to rely on local trains, Metro services, taxis and autorickshaws for their daily travel. The disruption coincided with the beginning of the monsoon season and the conduct of the NEET examination, adding to commuter challenges.
The breakthrough came after a special meeting held at Sahyadri Guest House, where the state government agreed to several demands raised by employee representatives. As an interim relief measure, regular BEST employees will receive a monthly increase of Rs 3,000, while wet-lease and contract workers will receive Rs 2,000 per month until a new wage settlement is finalised.
The government also assured employees that pending gratuity dues would be cleared within the current financial year. In addition, plans were outlined to strengthen the financially-stressed transport undertaking. The state government indicated that steps would be taken to improve BEST’s financial health, modernise infrastructure and enhance employee welfare over the coming years.
As part of the revival strategy, the government announced plans to induct 5,000 electric buses over the next three years. A committee has also been formed to examine measures for improving operations and addressing infrastructure concerns, including the condition of bus depots.
Following the assurances, the BEST Employees’ Action Committee withdrew the strike and announced the resumption of services. The development comes as a relief for Mumbai’s commuters, many of whom had expressed support for the employees’ demands while also urging improvements in the city’s public transport infrastructure.
