Vasai-Virar’s municipal bus service remained completely suspended for a second consecutive day on Sunday after contractual drivers and conductors stopped work over alleged short payment of wages, disrupting travel for an estimated 60,000 to 65,000 daily passengers ahead of Ganeshotsav.
The work stoppage began suddenly on Saturday, according to a report by Loksatta – Vasai-Virar. The contractual transport workers have alleged that the contractor responsible for operating the service has not paid them their full wages. No bus operated in the city on Sunday as the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation administration and the contractor had not reached a reported resolution.
The municipal transport service operates across 36 routes in Vasai-Virar. With all services halted, commuters have been forced to depend on auto-rickshaws and other available modes of transport for daily travel, shopping and festival-related journeys.
The disruption comes shortly before Ganeshotsav, which is scheduled to begin on September 14. Residents are preparing for festival activities across the city, and the suspension has affected people travelling to markets, making purchases and visiting relatives. The timing has added pressure to an already strained local transport network, according to the report.
Commuters have also reported difficulty finding auto-rickshaws in several areas, with passengers waiting in queues. Some residents alleged that auto-rickshaw operators were charging higher fares while the municipal bus service remained unavailable. These claims have been attributed to commuter accounts and have not been independently verified through an official fare enforcement statement.
Radheshyam Gupta, who was travelling between Vasai Phata and Vasai East, said the sudden suspension had left him dependent on auto-rickshaws and disrupted his daily household budget. His account reflects the immediate financial impact for passengers who ordinarily rely on the municipal buses for regular travel.
The dispute highlights the operational dependence of the city’s public transport system on contractual workers and private service arrangements. While the immediate issue is a wage dispute between workers and the contractor, the resulting shutdown has affected the public service used by tens of thousands of passengers each day. The municipal administration’s role in resolving the disruption is central because the service is operated through the corporation even though the affected staff are contractual employees.
The report did not include a detailed response from the contractor, the municipal administration or the workers’ representatives on the steps being taken to restore bus operations. It also did not specify the amount of wages allegedly withheld or provide a timeline for the resumption of services. Bus operations will depend on a settlement between the concerned parties and the return of the contractual workforce.
