The indefinite strike by employees of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking was called off on Sunday night following a meeting between their unions and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, officials said.

The strike had severely disrupted bus services across Mumbai for the last three days, forcing passengers to depend on local trains, Metro services, taxis and autorickshaws for their daily commute.

Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, MLAs Sachin Ahir and Murji Patel, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner (BMC) Ashwini Bhide, BEST General Manager Sonia Sethi, and union representatives attended the meeting at Sahyadri Guest House.

Under the agreement, BEST employees will receive an interim monthly pay increase of Rs 3,000, while employees of wet lease operators will receive Rs 2,000 per month until a new wage settlement is finalised, Shinde announced.

He also directed the BEST administration to clear employees' pending gratuity dues within the current financial year and instructed that bus services resume immediately following the withdrawal of the strike.

The deputy CM said the government would strengthen the public transport undertaking by procuring 5,000 electric buses over the next three years and making the necessary financial provisions in a phased manner.

He further assured that the BEST administration's proposed revival plan would be submitted to the state government at the earliest and placed before the cabinet for approval.

Describing BEST as Mumbai's lifeline, Shinde said strengthening the undertaking was essential, and the government was committed to addressing employees' concerns while improving public transport services.