Day 3 of strike: BEST to operate 180 special bus trips for NEET re-exam students
Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking on Sunday operated special bus services for students appearing for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) re-examination, with nearly 180 trips arranged across the city to ensure smooth transportation.
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the civic transport body deployed around 60 buses on 24 routes to facilitate students’ travel to 63 examination centres in Mumbai. The special arrangements were made despite an ongoing strike by BEST employees that has disrupted regular services since Friday.
Officials said the buses were operated between 9 am and 1 pm, and again from 5 pm to 7 pm, with direct connectivity provided from key locations such as Kurla, Dadar, Malad and Mulund to various exam centres. BEST also sought additional support from the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) to manage services during the disruption.
However, route details of the special services were not publicly shared until late morning, leaving several students with limited time to plan their travel.
The strike, called by the BEST Sanyukt Kamgar Kruti Samiti, has severely affected Mumbai’s public transport system, with services reduced to a fraction of normal operations since Friday. The agitation has continued despite the invocation of the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) and an interim order from an industrial court restraining employees from striking.
BEST’s workforce, including permanent and temporary staff as well as workers from wet-lease operators, have joined the protest. Notices have been issued under MESMA, and legal action may follow against those participating in the strike.
BEST operates a fleet of 2,766 buses and serves nearly 25 lakh passengers daily, making it the city’s second-largest public transport provider after the suburban railway network.
On Friday, only a limited number of buses operated, with several services reportedly disrupted due to obstruction and incidents of stone-pelting. The situation worsened on Saturday, when only a handful of buses were operational during the day.
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik held discussions with union representatives and senior officials, but talks remained inconclusive.
The ongoing strike has increased pressure on Mumbai’s Metro and suburban railway systems, while many commuters have resorted to taxis, autorickshaws or work-from-home arrangements due to the disruption.
Union leaders have stated that the protest will continue until the government addresses their demands, including the merger of BEST’s budget with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations, settlement of retired employees’ dues, abolition of contractual employment in transport and electricity operations, and absorption of wet-lease bus workers into BEST.