Mumbai: BMC has approved the proposal of giving Rs100 crore every month to the BEST Undertaking to expand its fleet size to 7,000 buses within three months as a condition to get grants from the body.
According to a proposal, BMC is ready to Pay Rs600 crore to the ailing transport undertaking. The proposal was approved to give Rs100 crore as first installment.
There are a few conditions BMC put forward. BMC asked BEST to increase the bus fleet from the current 3,300 to 7,000, run minibuses for short distances with a minimum fare of Rs5 from the current Rs8.
Earlier, mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar had announced to give Rs100 crore for a month till the BEST budget gets merged with BMC. But, in standing committee meeting on Wednesday, only Rs600 crore was approved for the BEST.
Soon after taking charge, BMC Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi had decided in May to give a grant of ₹100 crore to BEST. In a meeting with the BEST administration, BMC had recommended wet leasing of buses to increase its fleet, giving real-time updates of a bus’s current location at stops, commercial exploitation of BEST assets, among other measures.
NCP leader Rakhi Jadhav said if the BEST will get Rs12,000 crore, then it could have been useful for the undertaking for its operations. Earlier, the ruling party had said the BEST would be given Rs1 crore for 12 month as a financial help.
Samajwadi Party leader, Rais Shaikh said even after giving Rs100 crore to BEST for better functioning, if there is no change seen in the BEST’s condition, then the chief would be held responsible.
