From correspondents in Maharashtra, India, 06:32 PM IST

Thousands of state-run buses went off the roads of India's financial capital Mumbai Thursday, severely affecting public transport in the city as authorities decided to crack down on striking employees by giving them the sack.

Employees of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) launched their 72-hour strike at midnight Wednesday demanding better salaries. BEST is the city's only public transport network besides the trains.

BEST trade unions accused the management of not increasing employees' salaries despite promising to do so.

Taking a no-nonsense stance, BEST authorities announced that the striking employees will be given the sack through notices in local dailies Friday and simultaneously invite potential job seekers who have their names enrolled with the transport department, to replace the sacked employees.

'We will be issuing termination notices to the over 35,000 employees who have not reported for work Thursday through notices in newspapers tomorrow,' an official spokesperson told reporters here Thursday.

'The BEST will also be inviting all potential job seekers who have enrolled their names in the waiting list as well as those possessing valid driving licenses for immediate recruitment to replace the sacked employees,' BEST general manager Uttam Khobragade said.

Citing a Bombay High Court ruling on the strike, the BEST official said: 'The strike is illegal. Yet the employees have gone on strike without heeding to the court order.'

'We had warned the employees of consequences of going ahead with the strike. A court order as well the Essential Services Maintenance Act were in place restraining them from going on strike.'

Every day, hundreds of thousands travel by the 3,500-strong fleet of BEST buses. Over 42,000 BEST employees are participating in the strike, BEST sources said.

With the suburban railway network carrying passengers way beyond their capacity, Mumbai hit the slow-motion mode following the bus strike.

Commuters, caught unawares, had to avail of auto-rickshaws and taxis to reach their destinations. Not only were autos and taxis charging exorbitant fares, harried crowds had a trying time even flagging them down.

'I usually take a bus to the Mantralaya (Secretariat) from Churchgate. But with the bus strike, I am having a tough time getting a taxi to Nariman Point,' said Suresh Matale, a government employee.

'The taxi drivers are demanding three times the usual fare. My options are either to walk to office or be overcharged by a cabbie,' he added.

Autos do not ply within Mumbai city limits. And in the areas where autos operate, they too made a quick buck.

'I usually take an auto from Bandra to my office in Bandra-Kurla complex. With the strike, I had to pay Rs.5 extra over the usual fare, as autos refused to ply as per the metre,' said Rajani Kumar, a journalist.

BEST union leaders said they were not responsible for the commuters' plight.

'Commuters should ask the BEST management about this. It is the BEST workers who come forward and provide undisrupted service to people during water logging, fire or riots. Our services to the people should not be forgotten,' Sharad Rao, general secretary of the employees union, told IANS.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)