Hardly any buses could leave the 27 BEST depots across Mumbai in the morning

Striking employees allegedly prevented buses from leaving the depots, forcing commuters to rely on alternative modes of transport, such as autorickshaws, taxis, app-based cabs and the Metro, to reach their destinations during the morning rush hour

With several bus services affected, passengers were forced to look for alternative modes of transport, leading to overcrowding at railway stations, auto-rickshaw stands and key road junctions across the city

Large crowds was seen awaiting for alternate modes of transport in parts of Mumbai

Passengers faced extended waiting times during the morning rush hour, while police personnel were deployed in the area to manage crowds, regulate traffic and maintain order

The heavy rush highlighted the dependence of thousands of daily commuters on Mumbai's extensive BEST bus network

The impact of the strike was visible in different parts of Mumbai, where many office-goers were seen walking or using different modes of transports

The strike placed additional pressure on Mumbai's suburban railway system, taxis, auto-rickshaws and app-based cab services

Among the key demands of the employees are the merger of BEST''s budget with that of the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation), a one-time settlement of legal dues of retired employees, implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations for the 2016-2026 period, abolition of contractual arrangements in the transport and electricity departments, and absorption of wet-lease bus workers into BEST