Mumbai: Civic Activists Highlight Non-Operational Fire Extinguishers In BEST Buses, Allege Serious Risk To Mumbaikars' Lives

Mumbai: Civic activists have highlighted non-operational fire extinguishers in Mumbai’s BEST buses and alleged that they pose a serious risk to human lives. They have demanded the authority to conduct periodical inspections and ensure fire readiness in all the buses.

Watchdog Foundation has highlighted that many buses, operated by Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST), have fire extinguishers that are beyond their serviceable life or have not been maintained according to safety standards. In a letter to the general manager of BEST, written on Monday, it alleged an absence of a systematic maintenance schedule to ensure that all fire safety equipment is in operational condition.

The NGO highlighted an instance of May 23, when a BEST bus on route no. 326 from Dindoshi Depot to Kurla Railway Station had an expired fire extinguisher installed in it. The activists alleged that it poses a significant risk to passengers and staff in the event of a fire emergency. They cited the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, which mandates all public transport vehicles to have functional fire safety equipment and to conduct regular audits to ensure compliance.

Watchdog Foundation demanded that BEST administration periodically conduct a comprehensive inspection of all BEST buses to identify and replace expired or non-functional fire extinguishers. It also demanded the implementation of a regular maintenance and servicing schedule for all fire safety equipment, ensuring compliance with national and state fire safety standards.

“Ensuring the operational readiness of fire safety equipment is not only a legal obligation but also a moral responsibility to safeguard the lives of passengers and staff. We urge the BEST Management to take swift action in the above matter to rectify the current shortcomings,” said Godfrey Pimenta, trustee of Watchdog Foundation.