Mumbai, June 19 -- Public bus services in Mumbai faced disruption on Friday as employees of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport undertaking went on an indefinite strike from midnight, pressing long-pending demands over wages, pensions and fleet expansion despite the administration invoking the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act.
The strike was called by BEST Sanyukt Kamgar Kruti Samiti along with 12 employee unions after an ultimatum to management expired at midnight Thursday.
Bus operations and maintenance staff joined the agitation, potentially affecting the 40 lakh passengers who depend on BEST's 4,200-bus fleet daily.
The Samiti's key demand is the merger of BEST's budget with that of the Brihanmumbai Municipal...