Mumbai BEST strike continues, bus service crippled

A major strike by employees of Mumbai's Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has entered its second day, crippling the city's public bus network and threatening electricity supply. The indefinite strike, which began at midnight on June 18, continued on Friday, June 19, despite a temporary court order and government action aimed at preventing it.

The industrial action, led by a joint committee representing 12 unions, has left millions of commuters stranded. Officials reported that only a handful of buses were operational on Thursday, a stark contrast to the usual daily fleet of nearly 2,800 buses serving 399 routes. The disruption has severely impacted last-mile connectivity to metro and railway stations, forcing reliance on taxis and auto-rickshaws. The strike also threatens to affect premium bus services like Chalo, which depend on BEST infrastructure for charging and depot access.

The strike continued in defiance of an interim order issued by the Mumbai Industrial Court on the evening of June 18, which temporarily restrained employees from striking. Furthermore, the state government invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA),...