BEST boss warns drivers against joining stir today

Mumbai: BEST general manager Jagdish Patil, while justifying his plan to outsource 100 non-AC and 50 AC buses/drivers from private contractors in the near future, has issued stern warning to drivers about bunking duties for Tuesday’s agitation.
On Tuesday, a big morcha is being organized at the maidan by BEST Workers’ Union whose chief Shashank Rao said there could be a show of strength against “privatization” of bus services.
Patil, on the other hand, has assured commuters that services will not be hit and buses will ply as per schedule. “You can expect buses at regular frequency during peak hours and there will be zero inconvenience to citizens,” he told this newspaper. “It is not privatization at all,” he claimed, adding: “We are simply wet leasing buses along with drivers to ensure there is a better fleet in operation.”
It may be recalled that recently all Shiv Sena members in BEST committee and those from Congress, MNS and NCP had registered a strong protest against this move terming it as “BEST inching towards privatisation”.
The BEST has already floated tenders to invite bids from private agencies willing to provide buses on lease.
“I can understand there is a general apprehension that entry of private contractors would mean people losing jobs. However, I reiterate there will be no retrenchment of staff,” Patil said. “MSRTC has hired buses and drivers for its Mumbai-Pune Shivneri routes.”