Mumbai: A complaint was lodged against a BEST bus driver for allegedly bringing traffic to a standstill near Mulund West railway station on Wednesday after halting his bus for nearly 20 minutes to buy a parcel of sev puri.The incident reportedly occurred on the heavily congested MG Road, one of Mulund’s busiest stretches connecting commuters to the railway station and nearby commercial areas. The bus was empty and had no passengers at the time.According to residents and motorists, the driver stopped the bus in the middle of the road and refused to move until he received his snack parcel, resulting in a traffic jam during peak hours. Eyewitnesses claimed that a long queue of vehicles built up behind the bus, leaving motorists stranded and inconveniencing hundreds of commuters.When members of the public questioned the driver over his conduct and the disruption caused to traffic, he allegedly reacted aggressively and used abusive language. “People were shocked that public transport could be halted for something as trivial as buying sev puri. The bus remained stationary for nearly 20 minutes, creating unnecessary congestion on an already crowded road,” a resident said.The incident triggered outrage among citizens, who demanded strict action against the driver for negligence, indiscipline and misbehaviour with the public. Many questioned whether public service vehicles can be used in a manner that causes inconvenience to commuters and road users.The matter was taken up by BJP functionary and BEST committee member Ajay Singh, who forwarded the complaint to a senior BEST traffic officer. “I am informed that the complaint has been noted and action will be taken,” Singh said.The alert citizen, who took up the issue on social media, said he was returning home from work when he spotted the bus standing on one side of the road for a long time and this had impacted the traffic behind. “The conductor was waiting for the snacks to be collected and he boarded the bus thereafter. When I questioned the driver, he hurled expletives at me and this was unwarranted,” the citizen said.Citizens are awaiting a response from the BEST administration and want to know what disciplinary action will be initiated against the driver. The episode also sparked criticism on social media, with residents dubbing it a case of “Traffic Jam for Sev Puri” and insisting that accountability must follow. “Action must be taken”, residents said, demanding strict punishment to deter such incidents in the future.
