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BEST drivers, conductors disappointed with the arrangements made for them


BEST drivers, conductors disappointed with the arrangements made for them
SHARES


Amid the 21-day lockdown, the only public transport that is functioning in Mumbai is the bus service by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST). The BEST buses have been ferrying people working in essential services amid the coronavirus pandemic. The drivers and conductors have been working relentlessly working to ensure smooth transportation for the employees of essential services.

However, as per a report by Mumbai Mirror, the drivers and conductors have been unhappy with the arrangements made for them at the bus depots where the staffers eat, rest and assemble in large numbers in a limited space.

The BEST unions have already brought the issue to the administration's attention. They also said that the buses are also running jam-packed, which leaves little room for practising social distancing. A state of fear has set in amongst the BEST employees after a bus staffer has self-quarantined, owing to the symptoms of coronavirus.

A bus driver told Mumbai Mirror that despite fewer buses running on Mumbai roads, more staff has been coming at the depots. He said that they are being made to sit inside depots as back-ups.

Photos of the bus depots were sent to the authorities to display the gravity of the situation at the depots. The BEST Kamgaar Sanghatana leader, Jagnarayan Kahar said that since the gap between the arrival timing of two buses is more and fewer buses being available, the drivers and conductors have to stay in the congested space for a longer time.

According to the report, some of the BEST officials claimed that one of the reasons why the conductors were being called large numbers was because the government had asked them to do so.

However, the BEST authorities told Mumbai Mirror that there is no excess staff coming. They claimed that since the number of buses is low, it seemed so. 

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