Mumbai's BEST Bus Services Disrupted as Contract Workers Strike for Equal Pay

A flash strike by wet lease bus drivers and conductors left lakhs of commuters stranded, with workers demanding parity with permanent employees.

Thousands of contract bus drivers and conductors employed under BEST's wet lease model staged a protest at Azad Maidan, demanding 'equal pay for equal work' and better benefits.
The strike disrupted bus services across Mumbai, with over 1,900 buses out of service, leaving lakhs of daily commuters stranded and causing delays of up to 45 minutes between buses.
Protestors criticized wage disparities and lack of job security compared to permanent BEST employees, with union leaders highlighting financial exploitation by private contractors.
The protest, organized by the Sangharsh Kamgar Karmachari Union, included a peaceful march and a memorandum submitted to Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, who promised to address their concerns.
The strike underscores the challenges of BEST's increasing reliance on wet lease buses, with critics calling for a reevaluation of privatization and greater investment in self-owned buses to stabilize Mumbai's public transport system.