<p>Mumbai: Ahead of this year's Ganesh Chaturthi festival, the bus services of the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/maharashtra-newshttps://www.deccanherald.com/tags/maharashtra-news">Maharashtra</a> State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) were badly affected as a large section of employees went on a strike demanding a hike in salaries, among other grievances. </p><p>During the Ganeshotsav, which is slated to take place between September 7 and 17 this year, lakhs of people across Maharashtra go to their hometowns to celebrate the biggest festival in the state. </p><p>The ST buses carry the bulk of the passengers during the Ganesh festival. </p><p>As people have already started leaving for their hometowns, the first day of the strike had an adverse impact.</p><p>The strike has been called by the Maharashtra State Transport Kamgar Samyukta Kruti Samiti (joint action committee).</p>.MSRTC bans drivers from using mobile phones while operating buses.<p>"The representatives of the joint action committee - including members from 11 trade unions - had a meeting with state Industry Minister Uday Samant, which remained inconclusive. </p><p>Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will meet the union leaders on Wednesday in Mumbai.</p><p>Currently, buses are not departing from 35 out of 250 depots across the state. </p><p>“We will continue the strike till our demands are met,” said Sandeep Shinde, Convenor of Maharashtra ST Kamgar Sanyukta Kruti Samiti.</p>
<p>Mumbai: Ahead of this year's Ganesh Chaturthi festival, the bus services of the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/maharashtra-newshttps://www.deccanherald.com/tags/maharashtra-news">Maharashtra</a> State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) were badly affected as a large section of employees went on a strike demanding a hike in salaries, among other grievances. </p><p>During the Ganeshotsav, which is slated to take place between September 7 and 17 this year, lakhs of people across Maharashtra go to their hometowns to celebrate the biggest festival in the state. </p><p>The ST buses carry the bulk of the passengers during the Ganesh festival. </p><p>As people have already started leaving for their hometowns, the first day of the strike had an adverse impact.</p><p>The strike has been called by the Maharashtra State Transport Kamgar Samyukta Kruti Samiti (joint action committee).</p>.MSRTC bans drivers from using mobile phones while operating buses.<p>"The representatives of the joint action committee - including members from 11 trade unions - had a meeting with state Industry Minister Uday Samant, which remained inconclusive. </p><p>Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will meet the union leaders on Wednesday in Mumbai.</p><p>Currently, buses are not departing from 35 out of 250 depots across the state. </p><p>“We will continue the strike till our demands are met,” said Sandeep Shinde, Convenor of Maharashtra ST Kamgar Sanyukta Kruti Samiti.</p>