BEST bus strike continues, commuters inconvenienced for second day
TNN
MUMBAI, April 2, 2014 : Lakhs of commuters will suffer for a second day in a row as BEST buses continue to be off roads on Wednesday. The drivers and conductors, who went on mass bunking on Tuesday, have not reported for duty this morning, sources said.
A senior BEST official said that the department might take punitive action against those participating in the strike and refusing to come back. The Bombay high court too had asked BEST employees on Tuesday to resume work.
Several office-goers were frustrated as they did not get buses to go on feeder routes -- from their housing colonies to the railway station. The autos made brisk business, with several autos plying on share routes for those going to work early morning. Some citizens preferred to walk to station to catch the local train.
The services will also affect students who have examinations on Wednesday.
BEST general manager Om Prakash Gupta said that the scheduling system will optimize the use of workforce, ensure better frequency of buses and save Rs 32 crore for the undertaking annually.
But the unions are opposed to the 12 to 13-hour work schedule for 20% staffers and want the earlier manual system of scheduling to continue.