Despite serving 23 lakh daily commuters, the fleet has dwindled drastically; rest of fleet made up of leased buses; the total fleet size, including wet lease buses, now stands at 2650 buses
BEST is required to have 3337 buses in its own fleet. Representational pic/Satej Shinde
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking, once the pride of Mumbai’s streets, is now operating on what experts call “borrowed oxygen”. Despite serving 23 lakh daily commuters, the fleet has dwindled to just 249 self-owned buses, with the remainder of the service reliant on private leases. The total fleet size, including wet lease buses, now stands at 2650 buses. The fleet size also defies a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the transport utility and BEST unions, signed in 2019, which requires BEST to have 3337 buses in its own fleet.
Gandharva Purohit, daily commuter
The fleet is rapidly shifting to electric — already over a thousand e-buses, including AC double-deckers — while older CNG/diesel buses are being phased out. Despite this modernisation, the network is far smaller than the nearly 4800 buses it had 15-20 years ago. The undertaking is in desperate need of buses, but despite this, the BMC budget has allocated a mere Rs 1000 crore from its Rs 80,000 crore budget. Sources said it is a matter of concern as over 85 per cent of the BEST bus fleet is now being run by wet-lease operators.
Commuters Speak
Rupesh Shelatkar, President, Aapli Best Aaplyachsathi
BEST’s accumulated losses have crossed Rs 8000 cr. Under the 1888 Municipal Act, the BMC is obligated to provide immediate financial support. Though BEST is autonomous, it functions under the corporation’s jurisdiction, making the merger of its budget with the municipal budget essential. The Rs 1000 crore allocation is insufficient.
Shubham Padave, bus fan
BMC has still not realised that BEST is bleeding badly and needs revival. Authorities need to realise that Metro services are an alternate mode of transport and BEST’s long-distance routes need to survive. We don’t have enough buses. Bus shelters are missing at major stations, and bus stops are in a pitiable condition, just like the buses.
Teen sawaal
Trushna Vishwasrao, BEST’s first woman chairperson
1 Is there no money to spare in the BMC budget despite the outcry?
The BMC has already allocated Rs 1000 crore, and I will surely be taking up the issue with the state government to get more funds. I will ensure that we get more funds for the undertaking. All the pending issues will get solved as we settle down and draw plans.
2 The wait time for BEST buses has increased, and commuters are fed up…
We definitely need more buses. I am aware of the problems on the ground and will not allow the BEST Undertaking to lose commuters. We will draw a detailed plan to augment our self-owned fleet so that the undertaking reaches its peak position again.
3 As the first woman chairperson of the undertaking, what is your vision?
I have a few ideas, and there are plans for buses. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is a visionary in this matter. I will discuss in detail and plan with him.
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