Mumbai: Protesting BEST staff will fill Azad Maidan today

BEST workers protesting at Wadala depot in September last year. File pic

After being denied permission for a morcha BEST employees had planned from Byculla to the Mantralaya to highlight the merger of the Undertaking's budget with that of the BMC's, the workers have now decided to gather at Azad Maidan today to push for their demands.

Speaking to mid-day, Shashank Sharad Rao, convener, BEST Workers Joint Action Committee, said, "The merger of the BEST budget with the BMC one will be like a solution to the Undertaking's financial problems. We will submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. In fact, the Shiv Sena had promised this in their manifesto, but it seems they have forgotten about it."

"The BEST has been working as the city's lifeline in the absence of local trains and the services were not stopped even for a day. Its workers have given their life to the job while what the BMC budget has done is injustice," he added.

He further said, "We had organised a protest rally/morcha from Byculla Zoo to Mantralaya, but since the government has denied permission for it, we will gather at Azad Maidan around 3 pm on Wednesday to seek action. They had assured us of the merger and we expect them to fulfil it. It will save the Undertaking and its employees."