NAGPUR: The “torture” to the commuters ended on Tuesday morning after the striking drivers and conductors of Aapli Bus run by Nagpur Municipal Corporation called off their strike and resumed services in the city.The bus services are run through three red, one green bus operators and two ticketing agencies. The relief to the commuters came after the municipal body invoked ESMA.Though in the morning hours, the striking bus drivers and conductors have refused to resume duties, the three-red bus operators started the city bus operations with ad-hoc drivers and without conductors.“Today in the first shift, the NMC could operate only 50 buses out of 375 on various busy routes,” confirmed a senior official from the transport department. These buses were operated with ad-hoc drivers and without conductors, he said, adding the bus service was provided absolutely free of cost.On Monday, about 2,200 drivers and conductors under the banner Shiv Sena-affiliated Bharatiya Kamgar Sena Nagpur Union, went on indefinite strike demanding salary in accordance with the minimum wages act of the state government.“Following enforcement of Essential Services and Maintenance Act against the striking employees and keeping in mind the 12th board examination started from today, we have decided to call off the strike,” said Bhaurao Rewatkar president of the Sena.“The union called off the strike and employees started reporting to their respective depots. However, it will take a few more hours for operations to become normal,” said transport committee chairman Bunty Kukde.

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