By SUNIL Sonkar

Mumbai, May 04 — Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) may be imposed by Maharashtra government on Mumbai train drivers who have gone on strike on the second day, paralysing lifeline of the city.

Twenty motormen have been dismissed from their service after failing to report for work and continued to press their demand of wage hike.

The agitation of more than 600 motormen on the Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR) has compelled the railways to think over issuing a rare advisory.

Meanwhile, the western and eastern express highways on Mumbai were jammed with commuters as they have opted road transport to reach their destinations.

A bulk SMS reading “people may undertake (train) journey only if it’s very important” was sent with a helpline No. 10721 to assist stranded commuters.

According to railway authorities, only 20 per cent of the suburban trains were operating Tuesday.

Since Monday 6am the motormen have been on a hunger strike demanding hike in their wage. The result of the strike led to complete chaos in Mumbai during Monday evening peak hour traffic.

Maha CM Ashok Chavan met on Monday Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with a request of his intervention to end the strike.