19 June,2026 09:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
According to data released by BEST, just nine BEST-owned buses and 39 wet-lease buses were on the roads, representing less than 2 per cent of the planned fleet deployment. PIC/ATUL KAMBLE
The indefinite strike by employees of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking severely disrupted bus services across Mumbai on Friday, with only 48 of the 2,766 scheduled buses operating, according to official figures.
According to data released by BEST, just nine BEST-owned buses and 39 wet-lease buses were on the roads, representing less than 2 per cent of the planned fleet deployment.
In a statement issued on Friday evening, the BEST administration said the strike had been called by unions affiliated with the Sanyukta Kamgar Kruti Samiti, while claiming that the BEST Workers' Union, which it said represents 46 per cent of the workforce, had not joined the agitation.
According to the management, discussions were held with union representatives on June 9, while the Maharashtra government has invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) and the Industrial Court has restrained the striking unions. The undertaking added that police personnel had been deployed at depots and other sensitive locations.
The statement also referred to a high-level meeting chaired by Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik earlier in the day. The meeting was attended by union representatives, BEST officials, Additional Chief Secretary Aseem Kumar Gupta and legislator Sachin Ahir. According to the management, it was decided that the issue would be taken up with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, while the minister appealed to unions to withdraw the strike.
The undertaking reported 26 incidents during the strike, including 10 cases of stone-pelting, 10 instances of threats, three cases in which air was allegedly let out of tyres and three incidents of bus mirrors being damaged.
BEST further stated that electricity supply services remained unaffected despite the disruption to bus operations.
Meanwhile, the strike continued till late Friday night. BEST Kruti Samiti Convenor Uday Ambonkar said discussions with the transport minister had been positive but did not yield a concrete resolution.
"It was a positive meeting with the minister, but not an effective one. Hence, the BEST strike continues," Ambonkar said at around 9.30 pm.
Twelve leaders of the Joint Workers' Action Committee were holding a meeting and would announce their next course of action and an update on the strike by 10 pm.
