MSRTC staff issue protest notice ahead of Diwali rush in Maharashtra

The Maharashtra State Transport Kamgar Sanghatana submitted a formal notice on 22 October 2026 to the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), setting a deadline of 2 November for the resolution of long-standing pay and welfare demands ahead of the Diwali holiday rush.

The union announced that if its demands are not met within the timeframe, it will initiate a series of phased agitations across Maharashtra. The planned itinerary includes a procession in Mumbai on 3 November, followed by a delegation visit to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in Nagpur on 4 November. From 5 November, union members plan to hold sit-in demonstrations outside MSRTC headquarters and regional offices across the state.

Union financial and administrative demands

At the core of the notice is a demand for a festive Diwali bonus alongside salary revisions aimed at matching state government pay structures. The union has also requested the immediate release of October salaries by 2 November to assist staff ahead of the festival.

In addition to direct financial payouts, the union is seeking the settlement of housing and health allowance arrears dating back to 2018. It has called for full pay scale parity between MSRTC staff and state government employees.

Administrative policies and employee welfare

Beyond financial compensation, the trade union has raised several administrative and operational issues. It called for updates to card recharging systems, the rectification of errors on cards issued to women and senior citizens, and a smooth mechanism for digital UPI payments to prevent friction between passengers and conductors.

On workplace policy, the union requested comprehensive healthcare coverage for transport workers and their families, an end to contractual recruitment, and the cancellation of contracts for electric buses in favour of in-house bus manufacturing by the corporation. It also called for the withdrawal of a policy circular denying three months of maternity leave to female employees utilizing surrogacy, alongside disciplinary measures against officials who violate established regulations.

State transport authorities rely on MSRTC's extensive network to move millions of passengers during Diwali, and discussions remain open as officials work to ensure seamless public mobility across Maharashtra during the festive period.