Nagpur: Mor Bhavan in the heart of Nagpur, that is always teeming with commuters throughout the day, wore a deserted look on Thursday, as buses were off the streets owing to a strike called by contractual workers Aapli Bus of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). Similarly, the Sitabuldi area which remains choked throughout the day, was having wide space as the majority of the buses remained off the road.
The strike had a crippling effect on the city transport service as thousands of commuters faced hardships. The service of Nagpur Metro provided some solace as citizens quickly switched over in absence of city buses. With the start of Navratri, the rush on the streets was further added due to the strike which was near total.
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Thursday 03 Oct. 2024
About 300 buses ply on Nagpur roads on daily basis accounting for transportation of nearly 1.50 lakh commuters. However, failed negotiations between NMC and three unions of agitating workers left the citizens in the lurch. Regular commuters by city bus were left stranded as the strike resulted in buses remaining parked at their respective depots as the striking employees did not report for work. Barely 20 to 25 buses were seen plying on city roads, leaving students and office goers in jam.
Meanwhile, the auto-rickshaws made brisk business in absence of city buses on the roads and also took advantage by jacking-up rates. Some of the education institutions had given holiday and hence there was lesser number of vehicles on the road. With employees sticking to their stand that till their demands are not met, the strike would continue, said Vivek Wankhade, District President, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (Mathadi) and Rakesh Ghosekar, City President, VBA, Mathadi. Since the NMC administration did not take steps to call for talks the strike would continue, they said.
The unions of contractual workers, General Kamgar Union aligned to BMS and other to VBA and third one Lalbawta Vahatuk Kamgar Union (CITU) have reiterated their demands and said till they are accepted the strike would continue. As rush hour would increase from the second day of Navratri, the absence of buses on city roads could increase untold problems for commuters.
