Emerging
Jun 19, 20261
59%
BEST Bus Strike Threatens Mumbai's Public Transport Initiative in BKC
BEST employees announced an indefinite strike starting Friday that could disrupt the MMRDA's 'Friday Public Transport Day' initiative in BKC, supported by over 70 companies. The strike threatens planned bus service increases, though an Industrial Court interim order restraining the strike was issued on June 18.
Quick Facts
Who
BEST Joint Workers' Action Committee
What
Indefinite strike announced by BEST employees
When
Strike announced for Friday, June 21, 2026
Where
Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai
- Indefinite strike announced by BEST employees
- 'Friday Public Transport Day' initiative to encourage public transport use
- Planned deployment of 12 additional buses
- Industrial Court issued interim order restraining strike
- Unions demanding absorption of wet-lease employees, bus purchases, recruitment, and budget merger
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority's (MMRDA) 'Friday Public Transport Day' initiative in the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) faces potential disruption as BEST employees announced an indefinite strike beginning Friday, June 21, 2026. The campaign, launched the previous week and supported by over 70 companies and organisations in the business district, aims to encourage office workers to use public transport instead of private vehicles to reduce traffic congestion and pollution.
To accommodate expected increased passenger demand for the initiative, BEST had planned significant service expansions. The civic transport undertaking operates 125 buses on 16 routes with 976 daily trips. For Friday, it proposed deploying 12 additional buses, including four extra buses on the BKC-3 route, and operating 104 buses under the app-based Chalo Premium service. Extra buses were also scheduled on routes connecting Kurla railway station, Bandra Terminus, and Swavalamban Bhavan.
The BEST Joint Workers' Action Committee decided at a Thursday evening meeting to proceed with the indefinite strike. Committee president Uday Ambonkar stated that employees working with wet-lease bus operators would also join the agitation. The unions are demanding the absorption of wet-lease employees into BEST, the purchase of 5,000 BEST-owned buses, fresh recruitment, promotions for senior staff, protection of BEST properties from being sold or leased, merger of BEST's budget with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's budget, and payment of pending statutory dues to retired employees.
However, BEST officials reported that the Industrial Court issued an interim order on June 18 restraining employees, including those represented by unions and wet-lease operators, from striking from midnight that evening. This legal development creates uncertainty about whether the planned strike will proceed as announced.
Why This Matters
This strike directly threatens Mumbai's efforts to reduce urban congestion and pollution through sustainable transport adoption. For residents and businesses in BKC, the shutdown could undermine the momentum of a carefully coordinated public transport initiative just after launch. The Industrial Court's interim order creates legal uncertainty—workers, unions, and management face conflicting directives, making commute reliability unpredictable. For policy makers, this highlights tensions between labor demands and infrastructure modernization goals.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 13, 2026
WireMMRDA 'Friday Public Transport Day' initiative launched
Jun 13, 2026
WireFirst 'Friday Challenge' event, with thousands of BKC workers using public transport
Jun 18, 2026
WireBEST Joint Workers' Action Committee meeting decides to proceed with indefinite strike
Jun 19, 2026
WireIndustrial Court issues interim order restraining employees from striking
Jun 19, 2026
WireMoneycontrol article published questioning whether strike will proceed
Jun 21, 2026
WirePlanned indefinite strike by BEST employees to begin (if court order challenged or overturned)