Mumbai, June 25, 2025 — Mumbai is staring at the possibility of a major public transportation disruption as private bus operators across the city have threatened an indefinite strike starting July 1. The protest, spearheaded by the Mumbai Bus Malak Sanghatana and supported by several key transport associations, is rooted in longstanding grievances over mounting e-challans, crumbling infrastructure, and bureaucratic red tape.
The proposed strike could paralyze vital segments of the city’s transit system, including school buses, corporate employee shuttles, aggregator-linked services like Cityflo, and intrastate long-distance coaches. “This is not a sudden decision. If our issues remain unresolved by June 30, we will initiate a ‘Key Down’ protest,” said a senior representative of the bus operators’ association.
Among the primary demands is the cancellation or review of what operators term as “arbitrary” electronic challans issued by the traffic police. Many claim that the fines have become excessive and often unjustified, placing an unfair financial burden on transport businesses already struggling to operate under tough conditions.
The protest also draws attention to the city’s ailing transport infrastructure, including poorly maintained roads, inadequate bus bays, and lack of clear policy directives for commercial vehicle operations. “Despite repeated pleas to the administration, there’s been no real effort to streamline or support our operations. We feel pushed to the brink,” added the operator.
Support for the strike has snowballed, with major transport sectors joining forces. School transport services and employee shuttle providers have echoed similar concerns.
In response to the growing unrest, the Mumbai Traffic Police have scheduled a meeting of the District School Bus Safety Committee at their Worli office on Thursday. The meeting will be chaired by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) and will include representatives from the School Bus Owners’ Association.
Anil Garg, leader of the school bus operators’ group, confirmed their participation and reiterated that they too are battling infrastructure inefficiencies and enforcement challenges. “Our next steps will be decided after Thursday’s meeting,” he said.
With less than a week left until the proposed strike, commuters, schools, and businesses are on edge. The coming days will be crucial as dialogue between stakeholders could either avert a citywide shutdown or plunge Mumbai into a new level of commuter chaos.
