Nagpur, India: Public transport in Nagpur stopped on Wednesday as Aapli Bus drivers went on strike. They demanded payment of their pending wages for the last four and a half months. As a result, hundreds of buses stayed in the depots, leaving about 1.25 lakh people stranded. The usually busy Mor Bhavan bus terminal in Sitabuldi looked empty all day.  

The strike was hard on people with monthly general and student passes. Since they had already paid for the month, they had to spend extra money on other transport. Last time the strike lasted 5-6 days, and I had to spend ₹150 more. I hope this time it’s better, said a woman who travels daily from Pardi to Wadi.  

In the 2025-26 transport budget, ₹280 crore is allocated for Aapli Bus, but the expected revenue is only ₹110 crore. This means a loss of ₹170 crore every year.  

With no buses available, people had to rely on auto-rickshaws. However, many auto drivers took advantage of the situation and charged double the usual fare. For example, a trip from Sitabuldi to the railway station or District Court, which usually costs ₹20, went up to ₹40-₹50.  

Nagesh Sahare, president of the Municipal Aapli Bus Contract Workers’ Union, said private operators ignored orders from the labour court, municipal commissioner, and even the Chief Minister. He warned that if the demands are not met, the strike will continue until a solution is found.  

By evening, three operators agreed to pay the pending wages and gave written assurances. The remaining operators are expected to do the same, and bus services are likely to resume from Thursday, said Ravindra Page, Administrative Officer of the Transport Department.  

Passengers are now hoping that the situation returns to normal soon.