The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking is experiencing a significant decline in its fleet of owned buses, causing considerable concern among trade unions.
The current trend indicates that by 2027, BEST may no longer possess any buses of its own, relying entirely on contractor-owned vehicles. This shift is causing unrest among employees, with issues such as stalled promotions, unfilled vacancies, and unresolved staff benefits coming to the fore. Presently, BEST’s fleet totals 3,008 buses, comprising 1,099 buses owned and operated by BEST drivers and 1,909 buses running on a wet lease from contractors. Despite reassurances from BEST officials about ongoing efforts to procure more buses, the ground reality appears to contradict these claims. Sources within the organisation allege that although orders have been placed for over 5,000 new buses with various suppliers, the delivery schedule has not been adhered to, resulting in a stagnation of the fleet at the current number.
BEST officials have refuted the allegations regarding the depletion of their owned bus fleet, asserting that procurement processes are actively underway. However, the delays in deliveries are causing significant operational challenges. The reliance on wet lease buses raises concerns about the long-term sustainability and control over public transport services in Mumbai. The trade unions are vocal about their dissatisfaction with the current situation. They argue that the diminishing number of BEST-owned buses directly impacts employee welfare, as the transition to a contractor-owned fleet undermines job security and career progression for existing staff. The absence of promotions and the freeze on filling vacancies further exacerbate the issue, leading to low morale and growing discontent among the workforces.
This development is critical for Mumbai’s public transport landscape, as BEST has been a cornerstone of the city’s commuting network. The potential shift towards a fully contractor-operated fleet by 2027 poses significant questions about the quality, reliability, and management of the services provided to the public. The stakeholders, including BEST management, trade unions, and the municipal authorities, need to address these concerns collaboratively. Ensuring timely procurement and integration of new buses, safeguarding employee rights, and maintaining high service standards are imperative to sustain the trust and efficiency that BEST has built over the decades.
“The fleet is declining every day and if this situation continues, there will be zero self-owned buses by 2027. Since there are no new buses coming, there is stagnancy among the employees too. There are no employee benefits happening, no promotions and no vacancies being filled up. There have been no promotions after 2015 and there are more than 12,000 vacant posts,” the BEST Workers’ Union general secretary Shashank Sharad Rao said.
Rao added that it is legally binding upon the BEST to maintain a certain number of buses in its fleet as per a memorandum of undertaking (MoU) signed with us on 11 June 2019. “When we gave consent for the wet leasing of buses, there were certain mandatory clauses. The deal was that at any point in time, the BEST must have a fleet of 3,337 own, self-owned buses. For every bus scrapped, the BMC will fund a new bus. This MoU has been backed by BMC with a signed document.”
