Mumbai, June 19, 2026
Commuters across Mumbai faced significant disruptions on Friday as employees of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking commenced an indefinite strike, bringing a substantial portion of the city’s bus services to a halt. The industrial action, initiated at midnight, has severely impacted daily travel for lakhs of residents who rely on BEST buses for last-mile connectivity.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that the strike was called by the BEST Sanyukt Kamgar Kruti Samiti, a joint action committee representing 12 employee unions. The unions have been pressing for a resolution to a series of long-pending demands, which include the merger of BEST’s budget with that of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations for the 2016-2026 period, a one-time settlement of pending legal dues for retired employees, and an end to contractual employment. The employees are also demanding the procurement of 5,000 BEST-owned buses and the absorption of wet-lease workers into the undertaking.
The strike began despite an industrial court order issued on Thursday, temporarily restraining the unions from proceeding with the strike. Furthermore, the Maharashtra government had invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA), prohibiting employees from disrupting essential services. However, union leaders stated that they proceeded with the strike due to a perceived lack of concrete action on their demands.
The industrial action has led to a significant reduction in bus operations, with reports indicating that only a small fraction of the usual fleet was on the roads. Incidents of stone-pelting on buses were reported early in the day, prompting warnings from the Mumbai Police against vandalism and violence. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (MMRDA) Public Transport Day event, scheduled to take place at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), is also expected to be affected by the strike. BEST had planned to deploy additional buses to support the event.
The disruption has forced commuters to seek alternative modes of transport, including auto-rickshaws, taxis, app-based cab services, and the Mumbai Metro, leading to increased crowds and potential overcharging by some service providers. Traffic police have been deployed at major transit points to manage the situation.
BEST, which operates the second-largest public transport system in Mumbai after the suburban railway, also supplies electricity to over 10 lakh consumers in South Mumbai. The ongoing strike could potentially impact these services as well. The undertaking currently operates a fleet of approximately 2,700 buses, with a majority being on a wet-lease basis from private operators.
Union leaders have accused the BEST administration of failing to engage in meaningful dialogue to resolve their concerns, despite court directives. While some unions, such as the BEST Workers’ Union led by Shashank Sharad Rao, are not participating in the strike, employees at key depots have extended their support to the action.
The BEST management has stated that it is taking all necessary measures to ensure the continuity of essential services and has warned employees of action under MESMA for participating in the strike. Negotiations between the unions and the BEST administration are expected to continue in an effort to resolve the impasse.
The Chenab Times News Desk