Mumbai's public transport hit hard Friday as Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) workers kicked off indefinite strike. Spearheaded by BEST Sanyukt Kamgar Kruti Samiti,a coalition of 12 unions,nearly all city buses were stuck at 27 depots. Hundreds of thousands left scrambling for rides.
Morning rush hour chaos—strikers blocked buses, forcing commuters onto autorickshaws, taxis,app rides, even Metro. Immediate widespread impact. BEST hasn't released official numbers yet.
Strikers demand merging BEST's budget with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), settling legal dues for retirees, implementing Seventh Pay Commission recommendations from 2016 to 2026. They also want end to contract jobs in transport, electricity sectors and integration of wet-lease bus workers into BEST.
Strike defies industrial court's ad-interim order and Maharashtra government's MESMA, meant to keep essential services running. BEST is Mumbai's second-largest public transport provider,serving 2.5 million daily and supplying electricity to over 1 million in city .
BEST runs about 2,700 buses,many leased from private operators. Mumbai police warn of legal action against those blocking transport,damaging property, or hindering willing employees.
Meanwhile,Shramik Utkarsh Sabha and BEST Kamgar Union,representing some BEST workers,distance themselves from strike. They say talks with administration,state government ongoing to resolve issues…
