I have lost trust in wet-lease operators: BEST chairperson after bus crash

Trushna Vishwasrao, chairperson, BEST

With the number of serious accidents involving Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) buses rising in recent times, mid-day had a chat with BEST Chairperson Trushna Vishwasrao to learn what steps are being taken to address the issue. Excerpts:

There are accidents every day. What has gone wrong?
There has been a gap in investments from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, and many posts have remained vacant. We are now correcting this. Recruitment has begun, and bus maintenance will be at its peak. Taking note of the seriousness of these accidents, a four-member committee of senior BEST officials has been formed to conduct a thorough inquiry and submit a report to the administration immediately.

Most accidents involve wet-lease (contract) operators. What action has been proposed against them?
To be honest, I, too, have lost trust in wet-lease operators. Today, I called an emergency meeting of all wet-lease operators. I questioned their practices and issued strict directives to ensure passenger and pedestrian safety and prevent accidents. Negligence cannot be tolerated. However, it is also important to note that most accidents involve wet-lease operators because they operate the largest fleet.

What have you found from your interactions with the wet-lease operators?
As a practice, every driver works for nine hours and is then sent on rest. We have found that some wet-lease drivers are taking up additional assignments with delivery and private cab companies. This is leading to fatigue behind the wheel. Their main complaint is a shortage of drivers. One reason is that they are not paid adequately compared to BEST Undertaking drivers. I have asked wet-lease operators to pay drivers better so that they do not have to take up such odd jobs. It is more of a social issue.

What measures are being taken regarding the upkeep of buses?
There is a new SOP under which every bus must be inspected every morning before leaving the depot, jointly by BEST and wet-lease staff. There will also be a detailed inspection of every bus after every 30,000 km, along with a monthly assessment. We hope to improve the situation at the earliest.