The Ganpati festival is impacted by an MSRTC bus strike, affecting travel from key depots across Maharashtra, just days before the celebrations.
Ganpati, one of Maharashtra’s most cherished festivals, especially in the Konkan region, faces a major disruption as the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) employees go on strike. This strike, which began just days before the festivities, has left thousands of passengers who had pre-booked buses to their hometowns in a bind, raising concerns about travel plans during the festival.
MSRTC Strike Causes Travel Disruptions
The Maharashtra ST Kamgar Sanyukt Kruti Samiti initiated the strike just ahead of the Ganpati festival. Their demands include a salary hike for MSRTC employees, aiming to bring their wages in line with those of state government employees. Negotiations with the state government had failed last month, leading to this drastic measure. The timing of the strike, so close to the Ganpati festival, has caused significant inconvenience to many.
MSRTC, a major public transport provider in Maharashtra, operates around 15,000 buses and employs a workforce of 90,000. The corporation is vital to daily commuters, transporting over 60 lakh passengers every day. However, the strike has led to the complete shutdown of services at 35 out of 250 bus depots across the state, severely affecting districts like Pune, Satara, Sangli, and Nashik.
An MSRTC spokesperson confirmed the disruption, stating that while services in the Mumbai division remain largely unaffected, neighbouring regions like Thane are experiencing partial shutdowns. The Kalyan and Vitthalwadi depots in Thane division are completely non-operational, while other depots continue to function either fully or partially.
- Ganpati festival in Maharashtra faces disruption due to an MSRTC bus strike.
- 5,000 extra buses were planned between September 3-7 for festival travel.
- The strike was called by MSRTC employees demanding salary parity with state government workers.
- 35 out of 250 MSRTC bus depots across Maharashtra are completely shut down.
- The strike impacts key districts, including Pune, Satara, Sangli, and Nashik.
- The Mumbai division remains largely unaffected, with only partial disruptions in Thane.
As the Ganpati festival approaches, the ongoing MSRTC strike has left thousands of festival-goers in uncertainty, potentially dampening the spirit of the celebrations. Will the state government address the demands in time to ensure smooth travel during Maharashtra’s beloved festival?
