Overview
- The indefinite strike called by a 12‑union committee entered its third day on Sunday and left virtually the entire BEST fleet off the roads as turnout by drivers and conductors fell to single digits in several depots.
- Authorities served notices under the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act and an industrial court issued interim restraints, and Mumbai Police registered 11 cases and arrested 23 people over alleged vandalism and obstruction.
- Officials arranged special transport for the NEET re‑examination, with BEST saying more than 100 buses were deployed and the state asking MSRTC for about 100 additional buses to plug gaps in regular service.
- Commuters shifted to the Metro and suburban trains, which recorded sharp ridership spikes (Mumbai Metro reported about 181,716 passengers by evening), while many relied on costly autos, app taxis and informal private buses for last‑mile travel.
- Unions demand merger of BEST’s separate budget into the BMC main budget, lump‑sum settlement of retired employees’ dues, implementation of pay recommendations and absorption of wet‑lease and contractual workers, and they say they will meet higher state leaders but will not call off the strike without firm commitments.