With no solution in sight, BEST bus commuters suffered for the fourth consecutive day as 18 bus depots were hit due to the strike call of contractual employees on Saturday. The BEST administration has been repeatedly directing contractors to get the issue resolved. In the interim, the government has utilised Maharashtra state transport buses. The BEST undertaking has also pressed into service its self-owned buses, but they are still falling short.

“A total of 1,077 buses did not operate due to the strike called by the workers of private bus supply contractors on Saturday. The 18 affected bus depots include Deonar, Shivaji Nagar, Ghatkopar, Mulund, Marol, Majas, Dindoshi, Shivaji Nagar, Oshiwara, Malvani, Gorai and Magathane. We are trying our best to operate as many buses as possible to avoid commuter inconvenience and even roped in buses of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) for the purpose,” a BEST spokesperson said.