Mumbai’s public transport has come to a standstill as BEST employees launched an indefinite strike on June 19, 2026, demanding pay hikes, budget merger with BMC, and settlement of dues. The strike has disrupted bus services across the city, affecting nearly 25 lakh daily commuters and electricity supply in South Mumbai.
Mumbai BEST Bus Strike: Key Highlights
Strike Start Date: Midnight of June 19, 2026
Impact: Bus services halted across 27 depots, affecting 25 lakh passengers daily; electricity supply in South Mumbai also disrupted.
Organizers: BEST Sanyukt Kamgar Kruti Samiti, an umbrella body of 12 unions representing transport and electricity workers.
Fleet Details: BEST operates around 2,700 buses, but only 243 are owned by the undertaking; the rest are leased from private operators.
Employee Demands
Budget Merger: Integration of BEST’s budget with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for financial stability.
Pay Commission: Implementation of Seventh Pay Commission recommendations (2016–2026).
Retirement Dues: One-time settlement of pending legal dues for retired employees.
Contractual Staff: Regularization of contract workers and absorption of wet-lease bus staff.
Fleet Expansion: Increase fleet to 6,000 buses under BEST ownership.
Anti-Privatisation: Scrapping of PPP models and halting privatization efforts.
Government Response
The administration has invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA), prohibiting employees from taking leave or joining the strike.
Interim court orders have restricted contractual workers from participating, but unions remain firm on continuing the protest.
Commuter Impact
Morning Rush Hour Chaos: Lakhs of commuters stranded as buses remained parked at depots.
Affected Areas: Bandra-Kurla Complex, Kurla, South Mumbai, and eastern suburbs.
Alternative Arrangements: BEST has deployed extra buses on select routes, but services remain severely limited
