As per reports, the following are the latest updates of the strike commenced by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Joint Workers’ Action Committee, as on Saturday (20 June):
• On Saturday (20 June) morning, reports indicate that only four wet-lease buses were plying on city roads against the scheduled deployment of 2767 buses. Although around 246 BEST-owned buses had been rostered for service, none could leave the depots as striking employees refused to perform their duties.
• There are reports of increased reliance on auto-rickshaws, taxis and app-based cab services for last-mile connectivity. At several bus stops in south Mumbai, passengers unaware of the strike were allegedly left waiting for extended periods before learning that services had been suspended.
• While bus operations remained crippled, BEST officials maintained that electricity supply across its distribution network continued without disruption.
• Moreover, on Friday (19 June), only 48 buses were supposedly operational while 26 cases of stone-pelting, threats, tyre deflation and damage to bus rivers were allegedly reported.
