796 buses in Mumbai remain off roads as strike by drivers of private operators hired by BEST continues
The Hindu
Mumbai: 796 of 1,600 wet-leased buses off roads due to drivers' strike. BEST operated 603 wet-leased buses, MSRTC 122. Drivers demand salary hike, free rides. Waiting time for buses increased, overcrowding of passengers.
As many as 796 of the more than 1,600 buses wet leased by Mumbai's civic transport utility BEST remained off roads on August 7 as drivers of the private bus operators continued their strike for the sixth day over salary hike and other demands, officials said.
Sunil Vaidya, spokesperson of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), said the public transport body operated 603 wet leased buses with its own drivers on various bus routes, along with operating around 1,390 of its own buses.
The state-owned Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) operated 122 buses from six different depots of the BEST to avoid inconvenience to the commuters, he said.
Majority of the drivers of seven private bus operators, that have leased their buses to the BEST, have been on strike since August 2 over salary hike and other demands, including free ride on BEST buses.
According to BEST officials, their bus services have been affected due to the ongoing strike. The waiting time for buses at stops has increased and as a result, many buses have been witnessing overcrowding of passengers, they said.
The wet leased operators have been asked to sort out the issues as fast as possible by negotiating with their employees, Vaidya said.
The BEST is also taking action against the bus operators as per the terms and conditions in the agreements with them.
Prarthana Prasad is a social media influencer, entrepreneur and a leading voice from the LGBTQ+ community. At a recent Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Conclave held in Bengaluru she opened up about how she is often a “token ticket” for the corporate world, increasingly contacted by brands for promotion during Pride Month.