Aurangabad, Nov 28(UNI) Strike of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) employees for their main demand of merging the corporation with the state government entered the 32nd day on Sunday, crippling bus services across the state.
However, the state government has started taking action against striking employees and suspended more than 3000 permanent employees in the state and terminated the services of 1,226 day wage workers.
MSRTC has claimed that 18,000 employees have returned to duty and started services under tight security on Saturday, this number includes 2130 drivers and 2112 conductors.
The state government has announced 41 percent wages to employees and appealed to them to resume work.
Employees' Joint Action Committee met the transport minister Anil Parab and appealed to the workers to join duty but most of the employees who are agitating at Azad Maidan in Mumbai refused to follow this request and were adamant on their demand of the corporation's merger with the state government.
In Aurangabad, bus service for Jalna from Cidco bus stand started after some of the employees resumed duty.
Report from Osmanabad district of Marathwada region stated that about 350 employees joined duty yesterday and started services in some of the routes.
In Beed district, two hundred employees started work on Saturday, said Divisional Controller Ajay More.
Meanwhile, an unidentified person hurled stones at the Ambajogai-Beed bus at Manjarsumbha, a case has been registered against an unidentified accused at the Neknur police station.
Meanwhile, private bus operators and travel agencies are charging hefty price from passengers since the last one month.
UNI VKB RKM 0922