Mumbai BEST buses return to service after three-day strike disruption

Strike called off

Mumbai’s BEST buses are returning to service after employees’ unions called off an indefinite strike that had disrupted the city’s public transport for three days.

The withdrawal came after talks with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at Sahyadri Guest House, according to reports on Sunday, June 21. BEST services were then reported to be moving back toward normal.

Three days of disruption

The strike began on June 19 and sharply reduced bus availability across Mumbai. Earlier reporting said about 98% of BEST buses were off the roads at the height of the disruption, affecting roughly 23 lakh commuters.

Authorities responded by issuing MESMA notices as the stoppage continued into its second day. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation also supplied buses to help cover the gap.

Impact on commuters and exams

The disruption affected daily travel across the city and also complicated student transport. One report said 60 of the MSRTC buses deployed for BEST were used to ferry NEET exam students.

BEST is Mumbai’s public bus and electricity undertaking, making the dispute especially sensitive because of its role in daily mobility and civic services.

What remains unclear

Reports said the strike was withdrawn after the meeting, but the workers’ core demands were not described as fully resolved. It was not immediately clear whether all employees had returned to duty or whether any partial disruption would continue in some divisions.

Further statements from BEST, the unions or the state government could clarify whether services have fully normalized and whether the underlying dispute is settled.