Relief to students, parents and commuters as Mumbai bus operators postpone strike

This has come as big relief for parents, tourists and office goers, as they won’t have to face inconvenience because of the strike

Private bus operators in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) on Sunday deferred their proposed strike against traffic restriction imposed by the Mumbai traffic police to decongest city roads. This has come as a big relief to parents, tourists and office goers, as they won’t have to face inconvenience.

Tuesday’s strike would have kept 33,000 buses off the road.

Bus operators had threatened a 48-hour strike from Tuesday morning.

It would have kept about 33,000 buses off the road.

Operators are opposed to a circular by the traffic department, imposing a 17-hour ban on the entry of tourist buses in South Mumbai. The order was meant to decongest roads.

Mumbai Bus Malak Sanghtana, the association of the bus operators across the city, postponed the strike after a meeting of its members at Sion on Sunday. According to the association, more than 300 bus operators attended the meeting after Mumbai police commissioner Datta Padsalgikar has assured that no action would be taken against buses for next 10 days.

“The Mumbai police commissioner has directed the traffic cops to take care of all our concerns and make necessary changes in the traffic plan. Therefore, we have decided to defer the strike to avoid trouble to commuters,” said Harsh Kotak, a member the association.

Meanwhile, the traffic police have called meeting with bus operators on Monday, asking suggestions and objections before issuing final notification about traffic restrictions.

Bus operators also blamed that the parking mafia is behind the latest traffic restrictions as they want to extort money.

“This would result in bus operators increasing their fares. It will eventually affect common man,” said Kotak.