BEST projects Rs 1,317 crore deficit, includes 10,000-bus fleet plan in its 2027-28 budget

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport BEST Undertaking has projected an overall deficit of Rs 131750 crore for the financial year 202728 with its lossmaking transport division continuing to weigh on its financesThe budget estimates were presented before the BEST Committee by Prajakta Verma Additional Municipal CommissionerBEST has projected total income of Rs 855906 crore against expenditure of Rs 987656 crore resulting in a deficit of Rs 131750 crore an official statement saidThe undertaking has also proposed Rs 64779 crore in capital expenditure to modernise Mumbais electricity infrastructure and public transport network it saidElectricity division posts surplusAccording to the budget estimates BESTs electricity supply division is expected to remain profitableThe division is projected to earn Rs 500751 crore against expenditure of Rs 480630 crore resulting in a surplus of Rs 20121 croreHowever this surplus is expected to be outweighed by losses in the transport divisionBESTs transport division is projected to generate Rs 355155 crore in income against expenditure of Rs 470226 croreThis would leave the bus division with a deficit of around Rs 151871 croreThe figures highlight the continuing financial pressure on BESTs public transport operations despite plans to expand and modernise its bus fleetBEST plans 10000bus fleetAccording to the statement BEST plans to increase its operational fleet to 10000 buses in the coming yearsThe undertaking had 2834 buses in September 2026 while 4016 additional buses are being inducted in phasesThe fleet expansion will also include 1500 electric midibuses under the Centres PMeBus Sewa scheme BEST has also floated tenders for 200 CNG midibusesBEST is also planning to introduce opentop doubledecker buses for tourist HopOn HopOff HOHO services covering Mumbais historic landmarksThe initiative is aimed at strengthening heritage and tourist transport while offering visitors a different way to explore the cityDigital ticketing to expandBEST plans to expand digital ticketing through its ONE Ticket app which is integrated with the Open Network for Digital Commerce ONDCDigital bus ticketing is expected to become available through thirdparty platforms including Paytm PhonePe WhatsApp RedBus and RapidoRealtime monitoring to improve passenger safetyUnder the proposed Integrated Transport Management System ITMS BEST buses will be equipped with realtime Passenger Information Systems automatic vehicle tracking and drivermonitoring camerasThe system will be monitored through a Central Command and Control CentreBEST is also setting up advanced driving simulators at its Dindoshi training facility The simulators will allow drivers to train for challenging conditions including heavy rain and other hazardous situations without being exposed to physical risks during trainingPower grid to get major upgradeBEST has also planned major upgrades to its electricity distribution network under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme RDSSThe plans include replacing ageing transformers and circuit breakers and laying more than 150 km of highvoltage subsea and ground cables between 2026 and 2028Cybersecurity centre plannedWith BESTs power grid increasingly dependent on digital monitoring through an Advanced Distribution Management System ADMS the undertaking plans to establish a dedicated Security Operations Centre SOCThe centre will focus on protecting critical electricity infrastructure from cyber threats BEST also aims to obtain ISO 27001 certification for its information security systems