BEST calls off strike as demands met, but issues still prevail

The strike was called of on Wednesday afternoon at 3.30 pm after their demands were met and High Court initiated a mediator.

Even as the BEST employees unions called off their strike on Wednesday afternoon after their demands were met following the Bombay High Court's mediation, the problems the workers face may be larger than is being anticipated by the authorities.

The unions said that the driver, who earns a mere Rs 12,000 is driving a bus that in itself costs Rs 45-50 lakhs even in the light of 51 passengers, whose lives depend on the driver. The morale of these drivers and other staff has gone for a toss due to low pays as compared to its parent organisation, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), they said.

Of the 3,337 buses, most are single-decker while 120 are double-decker buses. The electric buses have been procured at a cost of Rs 1.65 crore. Providing such expensive transport services requires even the driver to be paid well, like those driving private cars. The drivers who joined the Undertaking after the year 2014 are the most recent ones and are paid a mere Rs 12,000.

According to figures, in the year 2016-17 there were 383 accidents that claimed 21 lives. "As the buses are the biggest vehicles, the bus drivers are held responsible in case of an accident. We are always at a risk of losing the job," said Mahesh Kshirsagar, a BEST bus driver. Most bus accidents that result in the death of victims involve the left side of the bus, also known as the driver's blind side, particularly the left rear-end.

Thus, in a bid to contain such incidents, smaller nine-metre-long buses are being introduced. The unions claim that even motormen maneuvering trains are paid much more, starting Rs 75,000. One of the prime most demand was revision of salaries.