Metro strike: BMRCL mulls alternative staff

The Bangalore Metropolitan Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has come up with a contingency plan to ensure that Metro services are not disrupted if its employees go on a  strike on March 22.

Speaking at the launch of digital door system by the BBMP, Mahendra Jain, BMRCL managing director, said: "We have come up with a contingency plan not to disrupt Metro services if employees go on a strike. We will be deploying alternative officers who are certified to operate Metro trains."

Jain also said that senior BMRCL officials and the president of the employees' forum will also be holding a conciliation meeting soon.

The BMRCL employees have threatened to go on strike on March 22 as they are not being allowed to form a union.

No Esma

Jain said that the government has not invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) on BMRCL employees as  reported by a section of the media.

"We have just included Metro services under ESMA because it has become an essential part of the city," Jain said.