MUMBAI: Bus services continued to be badly affected across Mumbai on Sunday as the strike by employees of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking entered its third day.However, the BEST undertaking said it had arranged over 100 buses to assist students appearing for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) (NEET-UG) re-examination in the city on Sunday, news agency PTI reported.The strike, called by the BEST Sanyukt Kamgar Kruti Samiti, has almost paralysed the civic-run bus transport system since Friday. The strike has compelled commuters to rely on local trains, Metro services, taxis and autorickshaws for daily travel.The agitation has continued despite the government invoking the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) and an industrial court’s interim order restraining employees from striking.BEST operates a fleet of 2,766 buses and ferries about 25 lakh passengers daily, making it Mumbai’s second-largest public transport provider after the suburban railway network.On Friday, the first day of the strike, only 48 buses were operational, while several others were reportedly forced to return to depots following incidents of obstruction and stone-pelting.Maharashtra transport minister Pratap Sarnaik held discussions with union leaders and senior officials from the Urban Transport Department and BEST on Friday, but the talks failed to yield any resolution.On Saturday, just four buses were operating during the first half of the day, leaving commuters dependent on alternative transport. Attendance among drivers, conductors and other operational staff also remained low.In a statement issued on Saturday evening, the unions spearheading the protest said they were open to talks with the government at any time and urged the state leadership to take an early decision on their long-pending demands.The strike has resulted in a surge in Metro ridership and increased pressure on the suburban railway network, while several office-goers opted to work from home. Commuters also reported longer waits for taxis and autorickshaws and higher travel costs due to the suspension of bus services.Union leaders reiterated that the strike would continue until the government provides a clear commitment on their demands, which include the merger of BEST’s budget with that of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations.The demands also include settlement of dues of retired employees, an end to contractual arrangements in transport and electricity services, and absorption of wet-lease bus workers into BEST.(With agency inputs)
