BEST workers on Monday put up for demands of Diwali bonus at par with BMC employees, saying they have put up life at stake to keep the lifeline running.

"Last year, BEST employees were given a bonus of Rs 9,100 after the festival was over, which was Rs 5,900 less than BMC employees. This year, employees have put their life at stake by keeping the Undertaking running, making it the lifeline of the city in the absence of suburban trains and they deserve to be paid at par with BMC employees," Shashank Sharad Rao, trade union leader of the BEST Sanyukta Kamgar Kruti Samiti said.