Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has revealed that 834 accidents involving its buses have occurred in the last five years, resulting in the loss of 88 lives. In addition to the fatalities, many others were injured in these incidents, prompting the administration to pay a total of Rs 42.40 crores as financial compensation to the victims and their families.
This information was disclosed in response to an RTI query filed by activist Anil Galgali. Anil Galgali had asked the BEST administration about accidents, loss of life and financial compensation in the last 5 years. Egal Benjamin, Senior Transport Officer of BEST, gave detailed information about the last 5 years to Anil Galgali.
In the last 5 years, there have been 834 BEST bus accidents involving BEST and private contractors. BEST had 352 accidents with 51 fatalities while private contractors had 37 fatalities out of 482 accidents. The year 2022-23 and the year 2023-24 recorded the highest 21 deaths each.
Rs 42.40 crores financial compensation was given to the dead and injured in the last 5 years and there were 494 cases. The highest amount was given in the year 2022-23.
In 107 cases that year, the highest monetary Compensation amount was 12.40 crores. Compensation amount was 9.55 crore in the year 2019-20, 3.44 crore in the year 2020-21, 9.45 crore in the year 2021-22, 7.54 crore in the year 2023-24.
In the last 5 years the number of dismissals of employees in fatal accidents is 12 and 2 employees were dismissed in personal injury cases. 24 employees have been suspended in personal injury cases. In other actions, warning, understanding, strong warning, recovery, reduction in dual category have been done.
These statistics highlight the safety responsibility of the BEST administration. Anil Galgali says that this shows the need to take more precautions from the administration and employees.
