Bharat Bandh: Mumbai Sees Lukewarm Response To Nationwide Workers' Strike; Check Visuals Of GPO, PNB Staff Protest

Mumbai: A nationwide strike, or Bharat Bandh, called by central trade unions and farmers' organisations, witnessed widespread participation on Wednesday, as workers across banking, postal, electricity and other public sectors staged protests against the government’s 'pro-corporate' and 'anti-worker' policies.

Over 25 crore workers across the country were expected to join the day-long strike, protesting against labour law reforms, privatisation of public assets, and rising economic distress, especially in rural areas. The bandh was organised by 10 central trade unions and their affiliated bodies, and it led to visible disruptions in several key services across Mumbai.

GPO & PNB Staff Participate In Protest

In the city’s Fort area, employees of the General Post Office (GPO) and Punjab National Bank (PNB) were seen actively participating in the strike. Postal operations, including mail delivery and customer counter services, were affected due to the absenteeism of workers.

Banking services in Mumbai bore the brunt of the protest. Several bank employee unions extended their support to the bandh, resulting in delays or unavailability of services like cash transactions, cheque clearances, and branch-level assistance. Although banks remained officially open, the absence of staff created disruptions for customers across multiple locations. Insurance sector employees were also reported to have joined the strike.

Electricity supply in Mumbai remained largely unaffected, but minor delays in service and technical support were reported. Over 25 lakh power sector employees across India reportedly joined the strike, raising concerns about timely response to outages and maintenance work.

Mumbai Local & BEST Bus Services Running Normally

Despite these disruptions, Mumbai’s lifelines, the local trains and BEST bus services, continued to operate normally. Reports quoting transport authorities confirmed that no unions linked to suburban railway or bus services had joined the strike, though they remained on alert for any last-minute developments.

Educational institutions, including schools and colleges, remained open across Mumbai as the Maharashtra government did not declare a holiday. However, some schools witnessed lower attendance, largely due to uncertainty over transportation and safety concerns among parents.