Mumbai BEST strike in pics: From serpentine queues at auto stands to how you can get a ride

BEST unions have demanded that the Mumbai civic body bail it out of its current financial crisis

As many as 30 lakh passengers in Mumbai were hit as BEST started its indefinite strike on Monday.

Commuters wait in vain at a bus stop in Borivli. (Pramod Thakur/ HT)

BEST buses stayed parked inside the Magathane depot in Borivli on Monday. (Pramod Thakur/ HT)

BEST unions have demanded that the BMC bail the transport body out of its current financial crisis, take responsibility for the salaries of its staff and not pressure the buses to adopt cost-cutting measures that would hit their employees.

The Pratiksha Nagar bus depot in Sion was completely deserted. (Kunal Patil/HT)

About 3,700 BEST buses went off the road, forcing commuters to stand in seemingly never-ending queues outside the city’s railway stations.

Exhausted commuters stand in queue outside Kurla railway station. (Pratik Chorge/HT)

Commuters complained that the drivers were taking advantage of the situation by overcharging them.

The situation was similar outside Andheri station. (HT)

Commuters said the demand for app-based taxis such as Ola and Uber had gone up and it was difficult to book a cab. To make matters worse, fares surged and commuters were told that the waiting period was 10 to 15 minutes

Autorickshaw drivers outside Kurla station refused to ply, despite pleas from the crowd. (HT)

In a move that came as a relief to commuters, the transport department allowed private vehicles, such as school buses and goods vehicles to ferry them.

A private bus service is currently operational between CST and Colaba. (Kunal Patil/HT)

School bus operators are currently offering cheap rides — Rs20 will take you 10km closer to your destination.