To protest against the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) administration's decision for not giving them ex-gratia payment (bonus), more than 45,000 employees of the best went on a 48-hour ''dharna'' from Sunday midnight. Though the agitation is not being officially called as a strike by the unions, the BEST Kamgar Karmachari Kruti Samiti and noted trade unionist, Sharad Rao, informed that none of the buses will leave the depots on November five and six.
Since BEST's deficits are mounting high and because of the undertaking's financial constraints, BEST general manager Rahul Asthana said that the undertaking was not in a position to pay bonus or offer a wage hike for the employees this year. He also assured that the management will make every attempt to avoid disruption of services. In Mumbai region alone, the BEST plies around 3,500 buses and the two-day strike will severely affect the daily commuters.
Bureau Report