Mumbai: Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking is facing a major challenge as its bus fleet dwindles, sparking concerns among workers, activists, and commuters.
According to the agreement between the BEST Workers' Union and the administration, the organization is mandated to maintain a fleet of 3,337 buses. However, the current fleet has shrunk to around 1,000 BEST-owned buses, with the total count, including wet-lease buses, falling below 3,000.
Data obtained through an RTI request by activist Jeetendra Ghadge reveals that BEST has scrapped 2,160 buses in the past five years, while adding only 37 new vehicles to its fleet during the same period.
The shortage comes at a time when Mumbai's population is expanding, increasing the demand for public transportation. "Mumbai needs at least 6,000 buses to meet the needs of its growing population," said a representative of Aamchi Mumbai Aamchi BEST (AMAB), an advocacy group pushing for improvements in the city's public transport system.
"In 2007, BEST operated nearly 4,600 buses, but today, even including wet-lease vehicles, the numbers have drastically reduced now".
AMAB also raised concerns about the privatization model adopted by BEST. According to the group, outsourcing operations to private contractors has led to cost-cutting measures that compromise service quality and safety. "The privatization model has failed. Private operators are more focused on profits than on providing efficient service," said an active AMAB member.
