• NMC steps in to diffuse situation as partial sum deposited in employees account as part of accord
• The bus drivers were protesting against non-payment of salaries, Provident Fund contributions, gratuity, and long-pending arrears of Privilege Leave (PL)

 

Services of Aapli Bus was slightly disrupted on Thursday after drivers at Khapri Depot struck work to protest non fulfillment of their long standing demands. However, urgent intervention from political representatives and civic officials ensured that the indefinite protest got called off. This averted a repeat of the previous strike that paralysed city bus operations around the time of Dusshera last year. The drivers supported by the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and Nationalist Congress Party Kamgar Sanghatana, strike meant 70 buses from Khapri Depot could not be plyed. The drivers were protesting against long-standing non-payment of salaries, provident fund contributions, gratuity, and arrears of privilege leave (PL).

 

Their key demands included immediate disbursal of PL dues for 2017-2022 and 2024-2025, timely wage regularisation under the 2024 Wage Act, and strict adherence to salary payments within the first ten days of each month. Responding to the crisis, MLA Pravin Datke convened an emergency meeting at the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) headquarters. The session was attended by Municipal Commissioner Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari, Additional Commissioner Vasumana Pant, Transport Manager Rajesh Bhagat, Administrative Officer Yogesh Lunge, Labour Officer Arun Pipurde, and union leaders led by President Nagesh Sahare, BMS affiliated union. Separately, NCP Kamgar Sanghatana also held parleys with officials of Time Travel Company, said Rakesh Bhosekar. At the meeting, officials confirmed that PL dues for 2024-2025 had already been disbursed, while instructions were issued to depot operators to release the pending PL amounts for other years at the earliest.

 

The Commissioner assured the MLA that no worker would face losses and that all dues would be settled expeditiously. Earlier in the day, NCP leaders including State General Secretary Prashant Pawar, Working President Shrikant Shivankar, and Labour Cell President Vivek Wankhede, had also extended support to the striking drivers. Union representatives, including City Bus Union General Secretary Vivek Wankhede and other office bearers, welcomed the assurances but emphasised that workers would remain vigilant until the promises were honoured. Bus services resumed after the meeting. Bhosekar said due to successful talk the drivers at Khapri Depot received Rs 10,000 by evening and remaining arrears would be cleared by September 22. He said during the talk it was made clear to Time Travel representatives that today only one depot work was stopped and if there is any further delay in fulfilling the assurances, then all five depots would see similar protest.