BEST to ply 212 additional buses on Raksha Bandhan

With less than 30 per cent train services to be operated on August 7, on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, the BEST administration is compensating by running 212 additional bus services. The officials said that these buses will be put into service after 12.30 pm.

"We shall be keeping our staff as well at the bus stops so that there is less inconvinience," said a BEST official. Over the last few months now the Undertaking has started making announcements using speakers and calling passengers to board buses.

However there is a glitch. The ongoing hunger strike by the Union could become a deterrent. The BEST Workers Union have decided that if the administration doesn't take cognizance of their demands then they will go on indefinite strike from the night of August 6. "Our drivers and conductors will celebrate Raksha Bandhan with their families and there shall be no buses on road," said Shashank Rao, Union leader who was on a three day hunger strike at Wadala depot.

The Union has been demanding that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, which is the parent organisation, should declare Rs 1600 crore as grant rather than a loan. They should also ensure that the BEST's financial crisis should be taken care of, and lastly, the salaries should be given second day of every month.