<span style="color: #222222;">The employees of Maharashtra State Road Transport Coporation have gone on strike demanding to clear their pending dues and allowances before Diwali. The employees associated with various unions have decided to continue the strike till their demands are accepted by the State Government. The strike has adversely affected the commuters in rural areas of the state and they are facing hardships since yesterday.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">AIR correspondent reports that employees of MSRTC were sitting on hunger strike at various depots in the state since yesterday. Today in the second phase of their agitation many employees have stopped their work in many more depots and this has affected the lifeline of rural Maharashtra. The effect can be seen at many depots in Vidarbha, Marathwada and Western Maharashtra. The depots are crowded and the commuters are facing difficulties who are dependent on ST buses.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Private transporters are taking undue advantage of the situation. MSRTC employees have made various demands including merger of MSRTC in the government, payment of the incentives of the work during Corona pandemic, payment of October and November before Diwali and also clear the other dues. Meanwhile, Transport Minister Anil Parab is expected to continue the rounds of talks today with the representatives of the ST workers union to resolve the issue.</span>