Maharashtra transport facing worst crisis in its 73-year history; 918 employees suspended

The MSRTC crisis worsened with depots across the state continuing to remain affected due to the strike by its employees The state transporter on Wednesday roped in private bus operators school buses and taxis to ferry the stranded travellers It suspended 542 more employees from 63 depots and one workshop across 20 divisions taking the total tally to 918 Fuelled by politicians the protest march reached Mumbai and a huge gathering was organised at Azad MaidanBuses at MSRTCrsquos Parel depot on Tuesday PicAshish RajeCrippled by the Covid19 lockdown and now facing a cumulative loss of Rs 12000 crore the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation MSRTC one of Indiarsquos biggest bus fleets with 18000 vehicles and 96000 employees is facing the worst crisis in its 73year history The MSRTC tried various measures to earn revenue including converting some of its buses into lorries to get cargo and running special services postlockdown but the crisis remained unresolved and the government had to intervene twice in the past two years and supply funds when salaries were delayed30 suicides due to the crisisPrivate buses were arranged for passengers in Pune on WednesdayNow cashstrapped the state transporter used to ferry 67 lakh passengers daily at its peak But after the lockdown and subsequent losses it started slashing and delaying the salaries of employees leading to financial crisis which prompted suicides mdash 30 so far Though MSRTC officials maintained that all suicides may not be due delayed or reduced salaries employees claimed that the salary messup had been the prime trigger In fact a few employees who were slapped with suspension notices also got emotional on Wednesday and attempted suicides but were stopped by their colleagues The staterun bus service has filed a contempt petition against 343 employees for going on a strike despite the court orders Protest enters cityMSRTC staffers hold placards during the protest at Azad MaidanOn Wednesday protesting employees tried to enter Mumbai in jeeps and tempos but were stopped by police at various points While BJP leader Pravin Darekar staged a demonstration at Mankhurd his colleague Kirit Somaiya was arrested from Azad Maidan on way to Mantralaya A massive crowd of protesters descended on Azad Maidan Darekar said that MSRTC workersrsquo agitation was not a BJP protest ldquoUntil the government gives us in writing about the merger of MSRTC employees with the state government the agitation will not be withdrawnrdquo he addedPrivate operators roped inFrom left BJP leaders Gopichand Padalkar Kirit Somaiya and Pravin Darekar arrive at Azad Maidan on Wednesday The state government has accused the opposition party of instigating the employeesOperations at all 250 MSRTC depots were shut on Wednesday officials said This prompted the government to allow private bus and cab operators and company and school buses to ferry passengers from MSRTC depots for their convenience RTO officials said at Punersquos Swargate depot private buses were being operated to Kolhapur Satara Sangli Karad and Belgaum and buses to Mumbai were available from Pune stationAnil Garg president of School Bus Ownersrsquo Association SBOA said the school bus fleet had already extended their support ldquoWe have requested all school bus owners to support the government by starting the service for the public We received directives from RTOs and we will support them as much as we can We have also appealed to the bus owners to charge as per the MSRTC rate chartsrdquo he saidPolice check vehicles amid MSRTC staffrsquos protest outside Mantralaya on Wednesday PicBipin KokatePassengers sufferPassengers however complained that most of the private bus operators were charging higher rates Private buses from Thanersquos Vandana depot to Karad were charging Rs 300 per seat Vivek Gosavi who was travelling to Pune said the operators were charging between Rs 250 and Rs 400 per seat as per availability ldquoAlso the buses were full and many passengers were getting in and out in between the trips leading to crowding They are just making money during the crisis But as people have no option they are taking the private busesrdquo Another traveller Ravindra Pawar had booked a ticket from MSRTC but he learnt about the strike only after reaching the depot ldquoFirstly I donrsquot know if I will get the refund Secondly I have to pay additional money to these private operators to proceed with my journey Itrsquos all a messrdquolsquoMSRTC rates not feasiblersquoBus operators on the condition of anonymity said it would be practically difficult for them to ferry passengers at MSRTC fares as their rates are subsidised but we have told our members not to overcharge anyone RTO officials who have been entrusted with the responsibility of arranging private vehicles at bus depots said that there was no written order asking them to monitor fares but they would certainly take action about overcharging etc if any passenger complainedBuses parked at Kurla depot on Wednesday PicSayyed Sameer AbediChief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday appealed to the MSRTC employees to not hold the statersquos poor people hostage by continuing their strike and cooperate with the government in its effort to resolve their issues In a statement he also hit out at the Opposition for ldquoinstigatingrdquo the staff for their own political gainsMaharashtra Transport Minister and Chairman of the MSRTC Anil Parab said the action committees should appeal to employees to suspend the strike He assured the protesters that the committee was looking into their demands and that no political party was going to pay the workers for the losses due to the strike and employees should trust the government918Total no of workers suspended till now for striking work12000 CRCumulative losses in rupees of MSRTC after lockdown96000Total no of workers employed by MSRTC18000No of buses in MSRTC fleet making it one of Indiarsquos largest30No of employees who have diedw by suicide so far