The disruption is expected to significantly impact lakhs of commuters who depend on BEST buses for last-mile connectivity to Metro corridors and suburban railway stations, forcing commuters to depend on auto rickshaws, taxis, or app-based services instead. The strike also coincides with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (MMRDA) weekly Public Transport Day initiative at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).

BEST typically operates 976 bus trips through 125 buses on 16 routes serving BKC daily. As part of the public transport promotion drive, the undertaking had also deployed additional buses and personnel to facilitate commuter movement in the business district. However, the strike could severely affect these arrangements and the overall execution of the event.

Alongside BEST bus services, the agitation will also bear impact on the operation of premium bus services including Chalo across the city. Chalo, which operates independently using its own electric bus fleet and crew, depends on BEST infrastructure for vehicle charging and depot access. Accordingly, Chalo spokespersons explain that while morning-time services operated as scheduled, subsequent services originating from affected locations of the 27 depots may face disruption.

The strike, led by the BEST Sanyukt Kamgar Kruti Samiti—a joint action committee comprising 12 unions—began at midnight on June 18 after talks with the administration failed to resolve a range of labour and infrastructure-related demands. Among their key demands are the merger of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) ‘C’ budget allocated to BEST with its main ‘A’ budget, payment of pending legal dues to retired employees in a lump sum, reduction in dependence on contractual operators, and absorption of wet-lease workers into the undertaking’s workforce.

Notably, the agitation continued despite an ad-interim order passed by the Mumbai Industrial Court restraining BEST employees and workers affiliated with wet-lease operators from proceeding with the strike. In a parallel move, the state government invoked provisions of the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA), declaring the transport and electricity services provided by BEST as “essential services” and prohibiting employees from participating in the strike.

BEST currently operates 2,766 buses on 399 routes daily, including feeder services and select long-distance routes, catering to nearly 25 lakh passengers. Through its electricity division, the undertaking also supplies power to around 11 lakh consumers across South and Central Mumbai, underscoring the significance of uninterrupted operations.