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Complete chaos prevailed on the roads of Bombay after Bombay Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking unions went on a flash strike on Monday morning demanding medical allowances and a salary hike.
Regular commuters were caught unawares by the strike.
Sandeep Vij, an office-goer in Andheri said, "I waited for nearly 30 minutes in the morning but no buses were plying. We were not told by anyone about the strike. The least the government could do was inform us about the strike in advance."
"Autorickshaws were charging exorbitant amounts, which I was forced to pay," said Vij.
As many people preferred to travel in their personal vehicles and others took taxis and autorickshaws, witnesses said there were traffic jams at Nariman Point, Haji Ali, Marine Drive and parts of Andheri.
BEST General Manager Rahul Asthana told rediff.com, "The workers went on a strike without giving prior notice. They have just not reported to work today. Their salaries will be deducted and action will be taken against them."
"We were intimated on Saturday evening that the workers would go on a strike. We immediately issued a circular that no leave should be granted to any worker until and unless it is a genuine case."
On any given day, BEST has 2,620 buses on the roads of Bombay of which only 33 were reported to be plying on Monday.
Only 68 of the 1,520 drivers and 47 of the 1,730 conductors had reported for duty on Monday.
Of the 200 inspectors, only 33 reported for duty and of the 232 starters (the personnel who monitor the timings of services), only 31 reported for duty.
Some incidents of stone throwing were reported from the BEST headquarters in Colaba on Monday morning, in which four employees -- three drivers and one conductor -- were injured.
However, leader of the Municipal Mazdoor Union Sharad Rao said, "We have not gone on strike, but all the employees have taken leave to be present at the rally to be held at Shivaji Park on Monday at 1400 hours (IST)."
He added that the Bombay Municipal Corporation and BEST had never given a single paisa extra without an agitation.
Rao's demand was that BEST workers be given medical allowances and a hike in salary.
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