Aapli bus strike turns violent on Day 3; commuters caught in crossfire

Nagpur: The Aapli Bus strike completed third day on Saturday, with incidents of stone-pelting reported from various parts of the city. The strike, which began on Thursday over wage disputes, has severely disrupted city bus service, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. Despite the challenges, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), with help from four bus operators, managed to run over 200 buses on several routes, offering some relief to commuters, said transport manager Ganesh Rathore.
The situation worsened on Saturday as hundreds of striking bus drivers and conductors took to streets, staging protests at Samvidhan Square. Raising anti-govt slogans, the workers demanded immediate revision of wages. To keep the services running, Chalo Mobility Private Limited, the IBTM operator for Aapli Bus, had temporarily assigned its checkers as conductors on Friday.
However, tensions continued to rise with multiple reports of stone-throwing incidents. Early Saturday morning, an unidentified individual attacked a bus on the Sitabuldi-Narsala route near Bhande Plot. Though no injuries were reported, the bus was rerouted for safety of passengers and staff. On Friday evening, two individuals threw stones at a bus on the Gittikhadan-Brahmani Fata route, shattering its windows and injuring a passenger. The bus was later taken to Gittikhadan police station and an investigation is underway.
Safety concerns have intensified among bus operators and NMC officials. "We urgently need police protection at depots to ensure the safety of our staff and passengers," said a senior Aapli Bus official. Despite the unrest, many striking drivers and conductors remain stationed near depots but refuse to return to work.
Additional labour commissioner Kishore Dahiphalkar held a meeting on Friday, urging the unions to call off the strike while advising bus operators not to take punitive action against the striking workers. Following an industrial court order to resolve the wage dispute by October 10, municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari has scheduled a meeting with union leaders and bus operators on Monday, October 7. The striking workers insist their protest is lawful and continue to demand wage hikes, along with assurance of no retaliatory action.
Meanwhile, the strike has left passengers struggling to find alternative transport options. Saloni Kayarkar, a 21-year-old forensic science student, shared her ordeal: "I boarded the bus at Baidyanath Chowk to reach Sitabuldi, but the driver and conductors forced all passengers to get off at Cotton Market. With a commuter pass and little cash, I was stuck. It was 8 am, and I was already late for my exam, which could impact my academic performance."
Mahendra Mungare, 50, too was frustrated. "I waited at Mor Bhawan bus stop for two hours, hoping to catch a bus to Defence Colony Gate No 3. I needed to get home to Wadi to visit my family, but the bus never arrived."
Adding to the pressure, Vivek Wankhede, district president of Vanchit Bahujan Mathadi, met with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Nagpur Airport on Friday. "We submitted a written plea, requesting that he approve the 2015 govt resolution (GR) for salary increase for Aapli Bus drivers, conductors, and other staff members," Wankhede said.
Despite these efforts, over 200 buses remain off the roads, leaving commuters in the middle of a conflict between the govt and striking workers. The Aapli Bus management continues to appeal for increased police protection at key depots and bus stops to prevent further violence.
(With inputs from Devyani Naukarkar)