In order to avoid any inconvenience to passengers on January 26 due to railway strike, additional bus services would be made available by Maharashtra Government in the city. The decision was taken at today by chief secretary JP Dange.
Additional BEST and State Transport (ST) buses would be pressed into service on the Republic Day considering the strike, an official from Transport Department said.
About 1,500 extra BEST buses would run between CST, Dadar, Andheri, Thane and other main railway stations. Other private bus services would also be permitted on that day, the official said.
The ST would give 150 addtional buses for Palghar-Thane, Palghar-Borivali, Vasai-Thane, Vasai-Borivali, Nalasopara-Thane, Mumbai Central-Borivali and other routes on the central railway also.
Thane Municipal Corporation has arranged extra 80
buses, Kalyan-Dombivali-20 and Navi Mumbai 90 for the day, the official said.
Maharashtra government has assured the railways to provide security to them and their family members if they attend duty, the official said.
The city motormen of both Western and Central Railway have announced the strike on the Republic Day to press their demands including salary rise. The demands of the motormen also include a weekly off, more allowances and better working conditions.
"The motormen do not intend to cause inconvenience to commuters and have chosen the national holiday," a member of the motormen's association said.
Meanwhile, railway authorties have said to take action against motormen who will remain absent on the day. The action would include loss of pay and break-in service, the railway official said.
