Mumbai without BEST buses properly running is not small issue ah . And now strike by twelve unions of workers from Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) has entered third day,which means lakhs of people are simply stuck finding some way to reach office,college,station,home… anywhere basically.
For city like Mumbai,where estimated 2.5 million passengers rely on BEST buses daily,this kind of disruption hits immediately . Not after one week,not slowly . Same day only roads,stations,share autos,cabs,everything starts feeling pressure.
Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act has been invoked to control situation,but honestly,on ground question is different . If buses are not moving properly,how exactly will people travel? Law can be invoked,but empty bus stop cannot take anyone to Bandra-Kurla Complex or Powai.
And this is where daily commuter frustration becomes very real . Private bus operators and app-based transport services like cabs and auto-rickshaws are already struggling in high-traffic areas . Fares go up,waiting time goes up,and people who depend on affordable transport get hit hardest.
Few things standing out clearly in this BEST mess:
- BEST fleet shrank from 4,700 buses in 2012-13 to around 240 today.
- BEST has accumulated losses of approximately ₹9,500 crore over past decade.
- Striking workers are asking for better working conditions and overdue payments.
And tbh,this is not just about one strike . BEST bus network was once seen as backbone of Mumbai public transport,safe,affordable and dependable . But over years,while metro and other transport options expanded,bus service itself kept weakening instead of getting stronger .
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is also facing criticism because people are asking how network reached this stage when BMC has budget of nearly ₹81,000 crore for 2026-27 . If public transport is lifeline of city,then treating it only like profit-loss sheet feels strange.
Unions are saying public transport cannot be judged only by profitability metrics,and that point is hard to ignore . A crowded city like Mumbai needs buses not as backup option,but as everyday survival system for workers,students,senior citizens and so many others .
Now strike continuing means pressure on management will only increase . But bigger question is still sitting there quietly: will BEST actually be rebuilt as proper public service again,or will Mumbai keep adjusting until one more breakdown happens…
