96% Of Fatal BEST Bus Accidents Involve Wet-Lease Buses; Chairman Admits Trust Has Been Lost After Dadar Crash

Mumbai: The wet-lease model adopted by BEST is facing unprecedented scrutiny after a series of fatal accidents, fires, breakdowns and technical failures raised serious concerns about passenger safety and operational accountability. With contractor-operated buses now forming the overwhelming majority of BEST's fleet, transport experts, activists and political leaders are questioning whether the city's cost-saving experiment has come at the expense of safety.

Shocking Data Revealed

Data accessed by The Free Press Journal shows that 22 of the 23 fatal accidents reported between August 2025 and May 2026 involved wet-lease buses, accounting for nearly 96 per cent of all fatal incidents. The figures are particularly significant because wet-lease buses now dominate BEST's operations. Of the undertaking's 2,801 buses, 2,553 are operated by private contractors, while only 249 are owned and operated directly by BEST. Wet-lease buses serve 349 of Mumbai's 400 bus routes and account for over 25,700 daily trips, making them the backbone of the city's bus transport network.

The concerns have intensified following at least 16 major incidents reported between May 3 and June 10 this year. The incidents include bus fires, battery smoke, technical failures, collisions, breakdowns and fatal accidents. The June 8 Dadar accident near Plaza Cinema, in which a pedestrian lost his life after a BEST bus allegedly failed to brake, has further amplified public concerns about the safety of contractor-operated buses.

Expert Warning

Transport expert Vidyadhar Date, who has long campaigned against the privatisation of BEST services, said the recent incidents have exposed the weaknesses of the wet-lease model. "Drivers employed by private operators, especially those operating electric buses, are often poorly trained, underpaid and lack job security. Many are compelled to take up additional work to supplement their income, affecting their rest and recovery time. The consequences of inadequate training and driver fatigue are increasingly visible on Mumbai's roads. BEST must reduce its dependence on wet-lease buses and strengthen its own fleet and workforce to ensure safer and more reliable public transport," he said.

Aapli BEST Aaplyasathi president Rupesh Shelatkar said several major accidents in recent months involved contractor-operated Olectra buses and demanded an independent public audit. "Three major accidents. One common factor — contractor-operated Olectra buses. The sudden acceleration seen in CCTV footage raises serious technical and safety concerns that cannot be ignored. Instead of making drivers scapegoats, an independent public audit of these buses is urgently needed. BEST must prioritise self-owned buses operated by trained in-house staff before more innocent lives are put at risk," he said.

Call for BMC Support

Transport activist Rupak Dhakate called for greater financial support from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to help BEST purchase more self-owned buses. He said increasing dependence on contractual buses has raised concerns about safety, maintenance and cleanliness. "Regular inspections and timely repairs must be ensured before buses are deployed on roads. Driver welfare is equally important. Excessive overtime should be discouraged, and drivers must be given adequate rest. Passenger safety must remain the highest priority, as every life is precious," he said.

Transport expert and activist MD Afzal also questioned the growing reliance on private contractors for a critical public service. "While wet-leasing helps BEST augment its fleet without large capital expenditure, passenger safety cannot be compromised. There should be strict and transparent audits of vehicle maintenance, driver training, working hours, compliance with traffic laws and safety standards. Accountability must be fixed not only on private operators but also on BEST as the principal transport authority," he said.

Safety Before Savings

Afzal added that public transport should be driven by safety and reliability rather than cost considerations. "Passenger safety must come before cost savings. BEST should rigorously monitor wet-lease operators and progressively strengthen its own fleet and workforce to ensure accountability, reliability and public confidence," he said.

The criticism has also come from within the BEST administration. BEST Committee member Nitin Nandgaonkar alleged that several wet-lease operators routinely failed to carry out maintenance despite officially claiming that repairs had been completed. He said inspections across 27 depots revealed multiple cases where buses remained unfit for operation even after contractors had informed BEST that repair work had been undertaken. Nandgaonkar demanded an investigation into the matter and action against officials found neglecting their duties.

Top Official Admits Crisis

Responding to the growing criticism, BEST Chairperson Trusha Vishwasrao acknowledged the erosion of public confidence. "Wet-lease buses are losing trust day by day, and trust has now been lost. We will focus on increasing the number of BEST buses as soon as possible," she said.

BJP leader and BEST Committee member Ramakant Gupta also criticised the heavy dependence on contractor-operated buses. "The growing dependence on wet-lease buses is directly damaging BEST's image. BEST-owned buses are more important for both passengers and the undertaking itself. If officials were serious about protecting BEST's reputation, the situation would not have deteriorated to this extent," he said.

For many transport observers, the issue is no longer about isolated accidents. The repeated mishaps have reignited a larger debate over whether essential public transport services should be outsourced to private operators. As accidents, breakdowns and safety concerns continue to mount, the demand for a stronger BEST-owned fleet is growing louder. The question now being asked is whether Mumbai's second lifeline can restore public trust without reducing its overwhelming dependence on the wet-lease model.

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