Relief for Mumbai commuters as 9-day-long BEST bus strike called off

The BEST workers were on strike since January 8 over their various demands, including pay hike, revision of pay scale of junior level employees and merger of BEST's budget with BMC

The 9-day-old strike by around 32,000 BEST workers was called off Wednesday, bringing relief to lakhs of commuters in the metropolis.

The BEST buses will start plying on roads again with immediate effect, Union leader Shashank Rao said.

Rao's announcement came after the BEST workers' union earlier Wednesday agreed to call off the stir after accepting the '10-step' pay hike to be granted to them as an interim measure by the civic transport undertaking's management.

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) workers, its management and other parties concerned will now go for mediation to resolve their dispute.

The BEST workers were on strike since January 8 over their various demands, including pay hike, revision of pay scale of junior level employees and merger of BEST's budget with that of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

A state appointed high-powered committee had earlier this week suggested that the BEST employees' salary be hiked in 10 steps as an interim measure.

The state government had last week invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) against the striking employees.

But it did take any stringent action, besides sending them notices to vacate houses given by the undertaking.

The BEST has a fleet of over 3,200 buses which criss-cross the metropolis and also operate services in the neighbouring Thane district and Navi Mumbai.

It is the second-biggest mode of transport in Mumbai after local trains, which ferry over 80 lakh passengers every day.