Pune: Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) employees have initiated a statewide strike starting Tuesday, September 3, demanding salary parity with state government employees, along with the release of pending dearness allowance and other benefits.

The strike has led to widespread disruption in bus services, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and causing significant delays in travel across the state.

The strike's impact was prominently visible in Pune, where major bus depots, including Swargate, Shivajinagar (Wakdewadi), and Pune Station, witnessed a drastic reduction in the number of buses operating.

On Tuesday, less than half of the usual services were available, resulting in long waits and crowded conditions for commuters.

For years, MSRTC employees have been pushing for their demands, including a revision in pay to match that of state government employees and addressing other pending issues like dearness allowance.

Despite repeated protests and appeals, the state government has not taken any significant steps to address these grievances, prompting the employees to resort to a strike. Union leaders organized sit-in protests across all ST depots in the Pune division as a part of their agitation strategy.

The strike severely impacted the operations at the Shivajinagar depot, which normally dispatches about 260 buses daily. By Tuesday evening, only 46 buses had been dispatched, while 51 routes were canceled.

Services to regions such as Beed, Latur, Parbhani, Dharashiv, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Dhule, Satana, and Nandurbar were among the most affected.

Similarly, the Swargate depot reported a 30-35% drop in its regular services. Typically, 65 buses operate daily from Vallabhnagar ST depot, but by midday on Tuesday, only seven of the 22 scheduled buses had departed. The depot generally handles 327 buses from Marathwada, Vidarbha, and North Maharashtra, along with 183 buses from Mumbai, totaling 510. By noon, only 225 of these buses were in operation.

Adding to commuters' woes, private vehicle operators have taken advantage of the situation, significantly increasing fares. Passengers have reported being charged double the usual rates as private transporters capitalize on the lack of public transport options due to the strike, leading to widespread complaints of exploitation.