Mumbai people are really getting hit hard now because strike started by BEST Kruti Samiti has reached third day,and public transport has almost gone silent . For city like Mumbai,this is not small thing ah,especially when lakhs depend on BEST buses daily.
As of June 21,no BEST buses were operational and all scheduled services were grounded . Reports say just 33 out of 2,544 scheduled drivers came for work,and only six of 3,760 conductors showed up . That number itself tells how serious this strike has become .
And situation in wet-lease fleet is even worse . Not single one of the 2,033 scheduled buses was on road,so commuters had no real backup from that side also . For office-goers,students and daily wage earners,this is direct hit on routine and pocket.
Many commuters are now forced to take autos or crowd into trains . Isha Kumari from Kurla said,“I travel daily from Kurla to my office using BEST buses because it is the most affordable option. Due to strike,I had to take an auto,which increased my travel cost. Trains were also more crowded than usual.” And honestly,this is exactly what many people must be feeling rn .
Few things standing out clearly in this mess:
- No BEST buses were operational as of June 21.
- Only 33 out of 2,544 scheduled drivers and six of 3,760 conductors reported to work .
- Not single one of the 2,033 scheduled buses in wet-lease fleet was on road.
Students are also facing proper problem here,especially girls who depend on affordable travel to reach school . Areas like Madanpura and Nagpada rely heavily on bus routes,so strike is not just inconvenience,it is disturbing daily life only.
Even students preparing for competitive exams are struggling to reach centres because transport services are disrupted . Teachers are now worried too. Naaz Khan,Principal of Blossom English School,said many female students from distant areas cannot afford alternate transport,and added,“The strike should be called off at the earliest, keeping students’ future in mind.”
Local politicians have also stepped in and asked for immediate dialogue between BEST management and striking workers . Waqar Khan,a local corporator,said public transport is lifeline for many residents,and ongoing strike is badly affecting daily life.
But bigger question is how long common people are supposed to manage like this . Workers may have their side,management may have its side,but middle mein Mumbai commuter is paying extra,suffering more,and still waiting for buses to return…
