Vasai-Virar Bus Services Come To A Halt As Drivers, Conductors Protest Half-Pay Ahead Of Ganeshotsav

Vasai-Virar's public bus services have come to a complete halt as drivers and conductors protest receiving only half their monthly wages from contractors. The strike, which began on Saturday, has left thousands of commuters stranded, including shoppers for the upcoming Ganeshotsav festival, school children, senior citizens, and daily officegoers. The sudden shutdown affected 120 buses, including 40 electric models, making 2,200 daily trips across 38 routes and transporting 60,000 to 65,000 passengers each day.

The workers are furious over receiving reduced pay as they prepare for one of the most important festivals of the year. Manoj Jarange Patil, a protesting employee, questioned how they are expected to manage their household expenses during the festival season on such low wages. The head of the transport department, Dhairyashil Jadhav, stated that efforts are underway to restore bus services as quickly as possible, and the contractor has been instructed to address the workers' demands immediately to resolve the deadlock.

The financial crunch is attributed to pending dues for various schemes that have not been cleared by the Municipal Corporation. Despite this, partial wages have been disbursed, and the department is actively speaking with employees to find a resolution.