Vasai-Virar’s municipal bus service remained completely suspended for the fourth consecutive day on September 15 after contract drivers and conductors stopped work over alleged unpaid and inadequate wages, disrupting travel across the city during the Ganesh festival period.
The stoppage began on Saturday and has brought all buses operated by the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation’s transport service off the roads, according to a report by Loksatta – Vasai-Virar. The service operates across 36 routes and carries approximately 60,000 to 65,000 passengers every day, with office-goers forming a significant share of its ridership.
Contract employees have alleged that the operator has failed to pay their wages fully and on time. The work stoppage followed an internal dispute between the contractor and employees. The supplied report does not include the contractor’s response to the allegations or details of any written settlement reached with the workers.
The prolonged suspension has left residents dependent on other modes of transport for daily travel. The municipal bus service is considered affordable and is the first choice for many residents, particularly those travelling for work. With no buses running, passengers have faced disruption in reaching workplaces and moving between different parts of Vasai-Virar.
The timing of the shutdown has added to the disruption. The Ganesh festival has increased demand for travel as residents shop for the festival and visit relatives. The stoppage has affected these journeys as well as routine commuting, according to the report.
The episode also highlights the operational dependence of a municipal public-transport system on contract workers and private service arrangements. While the immediate dispute is between the contractor and employees, the impact has extended to the wider travelling public because the municipal service has no operating buses available on any of its routes.
Loksatta reported that the municipal administration and the contractor had not reached a solution by the fourth day of the strike. No revised resumption schedule, interim transport arrangement or formal statement from the administration was included in the supplied report. The next step remains the resolution of the wage dispute and the restoration of bus services across the city’s 36 routes.
