MUMBAI: More than a thousand school bus drivers have migrated to BEST or private tourist buses recently as they were jobless for over a year during the pandemic.
This was revealed by the School Bus Owners Association (SBOA)which also informed TOI, that over 500 school buses are up for sale as owners want to discontinue business. More operators are planning to sell buses as there have been huge losses and driving at 50% occupancy for schools as per new SOP was “not feasible”.
“It is doomsday for us as the business is quietly shutting down and we have shortage of buses and drivers,” said Anil Garg of SBOA. Another senior SBOA member said that the government had turned a blind eye to the demands made by the association, which included financial packages for drivers and attendants.
Nearly 8,000 attendants in Mumbai were without pay for 18 months, and now with schools reopening, some of them expect to get back in the buses.
The drivers who migrated to BEST or private tourist buses now earn a minimum Rs 24,000 per month and this helps them take care of their families.
