MSRTC strike disrupts travel plans during festive season

Pune, September 04, 2024: With Ganeshotsav just three days away, the MSRTC strike that entered its second day today, threatens to jeopardize travel plans of citizens wanting to visit hometowns for the festival.

According to reports, the strike has been called by the action committee of 11 trade unions, 63 of its total 251 bus depots, 63 were completely shut, 73 were partially shut and the remaining 115 were fully operational.

MSRTC employees are demanding salary hike to bring parity with the salaries of state government employees.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has scheduled a meeting with MSRTC trade union leaders at the Sahyadri Guest House on Wednesday evening in a bid to resolve the issue.

नम्र विनंती.. pic.twitter.com/QBS3gIkx1j

— Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (@msrtcofficial) September 3, 2024

The strike has not only impacted the regular services but also the extra buses that were deployed for Ganeshotsav. A total of 5000 buses have been deployed to ferry passengers to their home towns in Konkan during the 10-day festival.

This strike has had a significant impact on the MSRTC Pune division also, with around 60% of ST bus operations disrupted in all ST depots and stands, though not much impact was felt on the Pune-Mumbai route as the Shivneri and E-Shivai buses running on this route are operated by private contractors.

In the Pune district – ST stands at Vallabhnagar, Bhor, Saswad, Baramati, and Talegaon – are all closed.   

In the Sangli area, Miraj, Jat, and Palus stands are fully closed, while the Karad, Vaduj, and Mahabaleshwar depots in Satara district are non-operational.   

Passengers numbers are pilling up at Swargate, Sangamwadi, and Pune railway stations bus stands in the city. Some private operators are exploiting the situation and charging exhorbitant prices, reported Hindustan Times, quoting a passenger.