Over 400 motormen of Mumbai's Western Railway went on a flash strike on Friday, leaving lakhs of commuters stranded during peak hour.
WR officials are negotiating with the striking motormen, who are demanding better work conditions and implementation of the sixth pay commission.
Meanwhile, hapless commuters who were on their way back from work remained stranded at local stations, as the trains remained immobile on the tracks.
Western Railway, considered to be one of Mumbai's lifelines, ferries lakhs of passengers every day.
The motormen association has already issued an apology to the public for the inconvenience caused to them.
Approximately 34 lakh people travel on Western Railway and given that peak hour has already begun, the evening promises to be chaotic.
Railway officials claim that they were not informed about the strike. They have urged commuters to take the express trains, if needed.
Motormen of the Western Railway have been agitating for the past few months for the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission, which will ensure that they are above guards in terms of grade pay. It will also maintain the old formula for calculating running allowance and provide for assistant motormen.
