Mumbai commuters are going through a tough time as the Suburban train services have sloshed down 80% of their services and gone on a hunger strike demanding a pay hike and other allowances. 600 men from Western and Central Railways are part of the strike. The already overcrowded city saw chaos as most people had to take to the roads to reach their destination. The western eastern highway was jampacked as a result.
The strike started on Monday at 6 a.m. People reached their homes late on Monday due to the strike but the situation was worse on Tuesday. A number of office goers and students were stranded. Mumbai University however, told students not to panic and assured that all those who get late for their examinations would get extra time to write their papers.
BEST and MSRTC tried to do their part by providing extra services in some parts of the city.
The government has intervened and even suspended a few motormen for refusing to work. A railway official said, “Ten motormen of Central and Western railway each have been dismissed as they refused to work.”
The government is seeking help from the central government. CM Ashok Chavan yesterday ment the PM Manmohan Singh and asked him to intervene. He has also spoken to Railway minister Mamata Banerjee and asked her to take strict action against the motormen.Chavan has also convened an emergency meeting to be attended by the officials from the police, railway and transport departments.
In the meanwhile the government has sent SMSs to people which reads, "People may undertake (train) journey only if it's very important" with a helpline No. 10721 to assist stranded commuters.
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