BEST strike ends after state government agrees to key worker demands
The indefinite strike by employees of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking was called off late Sunday following a high-level meeting between Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, and representatives of the BEST Joint Action Committee. The meeting, held at the Sahyadri Guest House in Malabar Hill, resulted in the government accepting key demands raised by the unions.
Joint Action Committee leader and MLA Sachin Ahir announced the withdrawal of the strike after more than an hour of discussions with state government officials. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Ahir said, “The state government held positive discussions with us. On behalf of the Action Committee, we are withdrawing the strike. The first buses will begin operating shortly.”
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde confirmed that the government had been in touch with union representatives over the past two days. “We had been in contact with the BEST Action Committee for the past two days. Positive discussions have taken place,” Shinde said.
The strike, which began earlier in the week, had brought bus services across Mumbai to a halt, causing significant disruption for commuters who rely on the public transport system. BEST operates a fleet of over 3,000 buses, serving millions of passengers daily. The strike was called to press for demands including wage revisions, improved working conditions, and regularization of contract workers.
Following the agreement, BEST officials said that bus services would resume in phases, with the first buses expected to start operations within hours. Commuters were advised to check updates from BEST for route and timing information.
The resolution of the strike is seen as a relief for the city, which depends heavily on the BEST network as a lifeline for daily travel. The state government's intervention underscores the importance of maintaining uninterrupted public transport services in India's financial capital.
