Amid the nationwide lockdown, the only public transport service functioning in the country's financial capital is the BEST bus service. The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses are providing services to the essential employees. Recently, the BEST corporation had announced a special daily allowance of ₹300 for all its employees who came to work during the lockdown.
After which, the State Transport (ST) Corporation employees have also demanded a daily allowance of ₹500 from the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC). The ST buses are ferrying essential employees to Mumbai from the neighbouring areas like Palghar, Thane and Kalyan-Dombivli.
The BEST Corporation had announced ₹300 special daily allowances for the conductors, drivers, and other staffers who report to duty between March 24 and April 14. Along with this, the transport wing had also decided to issue memos to the employees that did not show up for duty.
However, BEST Workers Union leader Shashank Rao had opposed the move of issuing memos. He had stated that there were various employees that came from far off places and it wouldn't be possible for them to show up for duty amid the lockdown.
Earlier, BEST employees had complained about the condition of the depots. The drivers and conductors were 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 Kamgaar Sanghatana leader, Jagnarayan Kahar had stated 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.
Meanwhile, the ST Employees Congress stated that they conduct 350-400 bus journeys between Mumbai and neighbouring areas on a daily basis. Therefore, they must be provided with a special allowance of ₹500 for all its employees who came to work during the lockdown.
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