Bus strike affects millions of Indians in Mumbai

MUMBAI, India

Drivers and conductors of state-run Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses went on a flash strike Tuesday morning causing at least 4 million Mumbai commuters to be inconvenienced.

The sudden strike by the city’s 25,000 BEST bus drivers and conductors against the new computerized scheduling system which is likely to result in long working hours, brought India’s commercial capital to a halt and affected office-goers and school children undergoing exams.

BEST workers fear that the new scheduling system, which comes into effect from Tuesday, April 1, is likely to increase their current eight hour shift to 10 and 12 hours. Unnamed BEST officials told Indian media that they are in talks with the workers to resolve the dispute.

Om Prakash Gupta, general manager of BEST told the Times of India that the new scheduling system will optimize the use of the workforce and ensure better frequency of buses thus cutting down annual costs.

According to Indian media, 40 percent of BEST workers accepted the new scheduling system by filling up the new scheduling forms but some trade unions went on flash strike on Tuesday morning demanding the return of old manual scheduling system.

The major trade unions have denied their role in the strike terming it as a “spontaneous reaction” by the workers.

Cabs and auto rickshaws stepped in to avail of the opportunity to make some quick money as 4,000 trademark red buses, considered to be the city’s second lifeline after local trains, went off the road.

by Mubasshir Mushtaq 

englishnews@aa.com.tr