Mumbai, July 8, 2026: A 43-year-old pedestrian was injured after a 12-metre-long BEST bus hit him while reversing on a narrow road in Bhandup on Tuesday morning.
The incident has once again raised concerns over the deployment of large buses on congested internal roads, with transport experts and staff demanding route changes and the return of smaller buses in such areas.
Pedestrian Trapped During Reversing
A BEST bus on Route A-425, operated by Oshiwara Depot, met with the accident around 8.30 am at Kokan Nagar while returning towards Versova after completing its trip to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Talao.
According to preliminary findings, the driver was taking a right turn when the bus could not negotiate the sharp bend because of the narrow road. He reversed the vehicle to complete the turn, during which the rear portion of the bus struck pedestrian Atul Padave (43), trapping him between the bus and a roadside tree planter.
Local residents and passers-by rushed to help and managed to free him by pushing the bus. During the rescue attempt, however, the bus moved forward, and the driver allegedly lost control, crashing into two parked motorcycles and an autorickshaw.
Padave suffered injuries to both thighs and was immediately shifted to Agarwal Hospital in Mulund by the bus conductor for treatment.
Inquiry Into Incident
A BEST official said an inquiry has been launched to determine why the bus had to reverse at the location and whether the road geometry or operational issues contributed to the accident.
"Longer buses are generally not operated on narrow roads and near station areas. We are examining the circumstances that led to this incident," the official said.
The accident comes months after a similar crash involving a 12-metre BEST bus in December 2025, following which the undertaking had decided to avoid deploying such buses on roads with limited turning space.
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Calls For Route Changes
Employee unions and commuter groups say the Kokan Nagar stretch has long been known for its poor turning radius and heavy congestion. Uday Amonkar, president of BEST Kruti Samiti, said drivers are often blamed despite difficult road conditions.
He urged BEST to either terminate the route a few stops earlier, where buses can turn safely, or reintroduce smaller seven-metre buses on such routes. The latest accident is expected to renew discussions on matching bus size with road conditions to improve commuter and pedestrian safety.
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