On Tuesday, December 8, transport services in Mumbai and in other parts of Maharashtra, including suburban trains and buses, remained unaffected amidst the Bharat Bandh called by farmers' organizations.
However, this agitation had a severe effect on the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) with as many as 8,100 scheduled buses getting cancelled.
The administration had taken precaution not to affect the ST services due to the strike called by the farmers' unions. The ST divisional officers were instructed by the headquarters to leave the ST only after assessing the situation in the district and discussing with the local administration and police. Of 21,575 scheduled services, it operated only 12,516. As many as 8,127 services were cancelled due to the Bandh and another 932 services due to other reasons.
On the other hand, the Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) remained closed in many parts of Maharashtra on Tuesday in support of the Bharat Bandh called by agitating farmer unions to press for repeal of the Centre's agricultural laws. As per reports, wholesale markets in major cities like Pune, Nashik, Nagpur and Aurangabad remained shut. Retail shops also downed shutters in many cities. APMCs at Kalyan and Vashi in Navi Mumbai, which supplies the bulk of vegetables and fruits to the city, remained closed, with wholesalers and traders supporting the agitation.
Even though the ruling Shiv Sena along with the NCP and the Congress had extended their support for the shutdown, however, the state government further appealed to protesters to not disrupt the public transport services.
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