Drivers’ strike disrupts BEST services for second consecutive day | Mumbai News

Mumbai: BEST commuters faced disruptions for the second straight day as drivers employed by a wet-lease bus contractor went on strike at Mumbai Central, protesting over pending overtime payments.
On Thursday, around 120 drivers employed by Maurya Trans-India, a subcontractor for Olectra Greentech (which supplies e-buses to BEST), staged a strike at the Kala Kila bus depot in Dharavi over unpaid salaries for Dec 2024.
On Friday, approximately 30 drivers from the same contractor halted work starting at 6:30 am, demanding overdue overtime payments. A source revealed that the pending dues were cleared by 10:00 am, and normal bus services were restored within an hour.
This marks the second major disruption of BEST services in the same week. On Monday, 210 buses operated by wet-lease contractor Mateshwari Urban Transport were grounded for nearly five hours. The stoppage was a protest against the alleged mistreatment of a pregnant bus conductor by her superior, leading to a police complaint filed at the Wadala TT police station.
Commuters have criticised the BEST administration for failing to address such issues proactively. Anil Nair, a commuter from Sion, remarked, “BEST should monitor contractor payments more closely to prevent flash strikes and spare commuters the inconvenience.”
Mumbai: BEST commuters faced disruptions for the second straight day as drivers employed by a wet-lease bus contractor went on strike at Mumbai Central, protesting over pending overtime payments.
On Thursday, around 120 drivers employed by Maurya Trans-India, a subcontractor for Olectra Greentech (which supplies e-buses to BEST), staged a strike at the Kala Kila bus depot in Dharavi over unpaid salaries for Dec 2024.
On Friday, approximately 30 drivers from the same contractor halted work starting at 6:30 am, demanding overdue overtime payments. A source revealed that the pending dues were cleared by 10:00 am, and normal bus services were restored within an hour.
This marks the second major disruption of BEST services in the same week. On Monday, 210 buses operated by wet-lease contractor Mateshwari Urban Transport were grounded for nearly five hours. The stoppage was a protest against the alleged mistreatment of a pregnant bus conductor by her superior, leading to a police complaint filed at the Wadala TT police station.
Commuters have criticised the BEST administration for failing to address such issues proactively. Anil Nair, a commuter from Sion, remarked, “BEST should monitor contractor payments more closely to prevent flash strikes and spare commuters the inconvenience.”