BEST strike brings Mumbai to a halt as 23,000 workers walk off the job

A BEST staffer stands next to parked buses at the Magathane Depot, in Borivli East. Pic/Satej Shinde

Mumbai's already stretched public transport system came under severe pressure on Friday after more than 23,000 BEST employees, led by a joint action committee of 12 unions, began an indefinite strike, leaving most buses off the roads and forcing lakhs of commuters to rely on overcrowded trains, Metro services, autos, taxis and app-based cabs.

Officegoers struggling to get into private buses at LBS Marg in Kanjurmarg West. Pic/Satej Shinde

According to morning figures, only 48 BEST buses left depots and operated partially. Authorities fitted many buses with protective shields on windscreens and windows amid attempts by striking workers to prevent operational vehicles from leaving depots. Commuters across the city also reported instances of auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers charging higher fares.

Daily commuters have a hard time flagging down autos at Kurla station. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Why are BEST workers on strike?

The agitation is being led by the BEST Sanyukt Kamgar Kruti Samiti, which represents 12 employee unions.

A board announcing the BEST bus strike outside Magathane Depot, in Borivali East. Pic/Satej Shinde

Key demands:
>> Merger of BEST and BMC budgets
>> Implementation of 7th Pay Commission recommendations
>> Settlement of retirement dues
>> Abolition of wet-lease arrangements
>> End to contractual operations
>> Permanent jobs for contractual workers

Commuters queue up for a Thane Municipal Transport bus outside Borivli station as BEST strike forces many to seek alternatives. Pic/Satej Shinde

Legal battle

>> Despite an ad-interim order by the Mumbai Industrial Court restraining BEST employees and workers affiliated with wet-lease operators from proceeding with the strike, the unions went ahead with the agitation.

Office-goers use a private bus on Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road during the BEST strike. Pic/Satej Shinde

>> The Maharashtra government had also invoked provisions of the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA), declaring BEST's transport and electricity operations as essential services and prohibiting employees from participating in the strike.

Commuter voices

Sanjay Patil, a commuter from Borivali
‘I came to the bus stop around 8 am as usual and was surprised to see hundreds of people waiting. It was only after speaking to others that I realised there was a strike. Had I known earlier, I would have left home much sooner.'

A deserted bus stop outside Kurla station as commuters look for an alternate mode of transport. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Prerna More, who travels daily from Borivali to Andheri
‘There was no information on my phone or any announcement that reached me. I stood at the stop for nearly 30 minutes before someone informed me that buses were off the roads. It completely disrupted my schedule.'

Neeta Apte,
‘The shared auto fare from my home to Borivali station is usually R15, but today drivers were demanding R20 per person. Since there were no buses, many commuters had no option but to pay.'

Sushil Jadhav, who travels daily from Vikhroli to Andheri
‘My office allows remote work in emergencies, and today was one such day. The bus strike would have added at least an hour to my commute, so I decided to log in from home.'

Esha Narkar, who travels daily from Andheri to Powai
‘I informed my office and requested to work from home. Travelling by train during peak hours, especially today when the crowd would have been even more, considering the BEST strike, would have been too exhausting, so I avoided commuting altogether.'

Anuja Shrivastava, who uses a private bus service from SEEPZ to Kandivali
‘Usually the private buses charge R50, but today they demanded R65.'

Mumbai hit by the numbers

BEST workforce on strike 23,000+
Buses operated on Friday morning 48
BEST fleet 2766 buses
Daily routes 399
Daily passengers affected About 25 lakh