Mumbai: Protesters at 27 BEST depots demand dedicated public bus lane, other reforms

Civil society organisation members submit demands to depot managers. Pics/Rajendra B Aklekar

Aamchi Mumbai Aamchi BEST and 22 other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Thursday expressed dissatisfaction against the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport's (BEST) plans of wet-lease and privatisation of the buses and protested the move.

The BEST fleet currently has 2594 buses, with only 437 owned by BEST and the remaining 2157 buses operating under wet-lease agreements with private contractors. To oppose the "systematic destruction" of what was once an exemplary institution of Mumbai, the civil society organisations staged a protest outside 27 depots across the city on the occasion of the BEST's 78th Foundation Day and submitted demands to depot managers.

"For many years, municipal commissioners and BEST general managers have made announcements of increasing bus fleet, but the number of buses have come down to 2594 with only 437 BEST-owned buses. Despite being damaging in every respect (service quality, safety, reliability and financial sustainability) the authorities have persisted with wet-leasing," a protestor said.

"There are also plans underway of giving away BEST lands to builders to generate ‘non-fare revenue' which will make BEST worse-off and make it close to impossible for BEST to revert to a fully public system. As if all of this was not bad enough, the BEST suddenly increased fares in May 2025 which immediately led to a drop in ridership," he said.

"There is a systematic effort by the BMC and BEST administration to shrink Mumbai's public bus service," he added.

"This shrinking will be fatal for BEST and for Mumbai city - which will be subjected to pollution, congestion and public ill-fare. We call upon Mumbaikars to rise and resist this betrayal. Unite your voices, expose this conspiracy, and fight for the future of public transport in our city," he explained.

The 22 organisations that protested include Aamchi Mumbai Aamchi Best, Democratic Youth Federation of India, Humanist Centre, Disha Students' Organisation, Fridays for Future Mumbai, Habitat and Livelihood Welfare Association, Jan Haq Sangharsh Samiti, Janvadi Mahila Sangathan, Lokraj Sanghatana, Loktantrik Kamgar Union, CITU, All India Trade Union Congress, Students' Federation of India, Mulbhut Adhikar Sangharsh Samiti (MASS), Nagari Niwara Vichar Manch, Naujawan Bharat Sabha, Nivrut Kamgar Sanghatana, Pudhe Chala, Purogami Mahila Sanghatana, Bhadekaru Kriti Samiti, Sarva Shramik Sanghathana, Janata Kendra, Purogami Vidyarthi Sanghatana and Paani Haq Samiti.

As per the demands made by the CSOs, BEST must...

. Give a separate dedicated lane on main roads for BEST buses
. End contract works and make BEST stable and efficient
. Provide gratuity and provident fund amount to retired employees
. Merge BEST budget with the BMC budget
. Restore all closed bus routes
. Add more buses to the fleet