Nagpur, India:  Mor Bhavan, usually busy with commuters, is at a standstill today on Thursday as buses went off the roads due to a strike by contractual workers of Aapli Bus, managed by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). The strike also left Sitabuldi, one of the city’s busiest areas, calm as most buses remained parked.

The strike impacted the city’s public transport system, leaving thousands of daily commuters to opt for alternative transport. While some relief was provided by the Nagpur Metro, the absence of buses caused significant disruption, especially for students and office-goers. With Navratri, the festival rush on the streets further intensified the impact of the strike.

Normally, around 300 buses ferry about 1.5 lakh passengers in Nagpur, but on Thursday, only 20 to 25 buses were in operation. The strike came after failed talks between the NMC and three workers' unions. Auto-rickshaws took advantage of the situation, increasing fares to cash in on the high demand. Some schools and colleges declared a holiday due to the strike, resulting in fewer vehicles on the road.

Union leaders, including Vivek Wankhade, District President of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (Mathadi), and Rakesh Ghosekar, City President of VBA Mathadi, warned that the strike would continue until their demands were met. They criticized the NMC for not initiating talks to resolve the issue.

The striking workers belong to three unions: the General Kamgar Union (aligned with BMS), the VBA Mathadi Union, and the Lalbawta Vahatuk Kamgar Union (CITU). As Navratri celebrations pick up and the city’s roads get busier, the ongoing strike threatens to create even greater problems for commuters in the days ahead.