Transport Minister Anil Parab on Wednesday announced an interim salary raise for all classes of MSRTC employees with immediate effect, promising to roll back suspensions and dismissals for all those who resume duty and salary disbursal within 10th of every month. Despite the minister’s promises, protesting employees at Azad Maidan are firm on their demand for the merger of the cash-strapped transport corporation with the government.

The salary raise, a minimum of Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,000 for all those who have been in service between one to ten years, will take employees’ total monthly salaries up by Rs 7,500, including allowances. Parab appealed to the protesters to return to work tomorrow, saying suspensions and dismissals would be revoked immediately. “I am giving an additional day to all those who are protesting in Mumbai to reach their workplaces and join back work. They can join a day later,” he said.