Since the morning of January 13, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus drivers have been on strike. The BEST travellers have been directly impacted by this. Buses from the Dharavi and Pratiksha Nagar depots have not been operating since the beginning of the week, which has caused inconveniences to travellers. At different bus stops, hundreds of passengers are waiting for buses. More than 200 buses are operated by the BEST have not left from depots as a result of this strike.
Reason Of Strike:
Today’s strike has impacted the services for many as there are 110 buses parked in Pratiksha Nagar depot and 100 buses in Dharavi depot. BEST officials say that a pregnant lady conductor was allegedly insulted by staff members of the wet lease operator, which led to them calling out for strike. After 8 am today, they staged a flash protest. This has affected at least 80–100 bus routes that these buses travel, primarily to the central and eastern suburbs of Mumbai as well as south Mumbai.
According to several reports, the conductor asked her management for fewer responsibilities because she was far along in her pregnancy, but her request was disrespectfully turned down. Several conductors and drivers from Mateshwari Urban Transport, the wet lease company in charge of the impacted buses, reportedly expressed displeasure over this incident.
Contractor MUT DH & PN on staff on flash strike. Self owned buses scrambled by @myBESTBus but still very insufficient. Days like these confirm contractor buses are a clear bad idea. pic.twitter.com/KFYOxDp1eu
— Akbar Merchant (@akbars600) January 13, 2025
For the past several months, BEST employees have been protesting for various financial demands. The employees have consistently voiced their displeasure with their low and frequently delayed salaries. Instead of continuing to work as contract employees, many are calling for permanent job status. Authorities have declared their intention to punish contractors and sanction the wet lease operator in reaction to the disturbances.
The city's commuters have experienced severe disruption as a result of the flash strike, with many complaining that the once dependable public transport system has grown more erratic.
BEST's current leadership void is making matters worse; the organisation lacks a general manager as the government tries to find someone qualified to oversee its power and public transportation operations, which have accumulated liabilities close to INR 10,000 crore.