The peeved drivers and conductors of the city public transport have ultimately called off their strike after the BEST administration’s assured them to re-introduce the old Rota system and postpone the computerized system for two months. 

 

"BEST should have invited our suggestions on how to implement the new Canadian scheduling system," a bus driver opined. On condition of anonymity he , "Our problems are many, but we have never resorted to strikes or mass leave for not getting bonus, salary arrears on time, bad condition of rest room, etc. This time, we are pushed to the wall," he said. 

 

‘The new schedule involves 12-13 hour spread-over duties, which will be strenous — both mentally and physically for any driver,’ said another driver. "This is besides the travel time taken to reach from your home to the depot," he pointed out. "The rest rooms are in pathetic condition. There is no space to sleep, the rest rooms are next to stinking toilets at many places and we don't have proper coolers for drinking water during summer. Many of us have to drink hot water from the tap (at the depot)," he stated.