BEST Committee Members Raise Concerns Over Bus Maintenance Issues Across Mumbai
Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) committee members raised concerns on Monday over the condition of fleet buses operating in Mumbai, pointing to maintenance failures like rainwater leakages and faulty doors on routes connecting Shivaji Nagar, Mumbai Central, Goregaon, and Antop Hill.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and BEST committee member Nitin Nandgaonkar stated that during a recent journey on route 357 from Shivaji Nagar to Mumbai Central, he found that the door of an air-conditioned bus failed to close or lock properly. He noted that cool air continuously escaped from the vehicle despite commuters paying a minimum fare of Rs 12 for AC service.
Nandgaonkar cited a recent BEST letter stating that 868 buses were found defective, with 774 repaired over the past three months. He argued that the high number of defects highlights the need for stricter pre-departure checks across the city's 27 depots. He also linked technical shortcomings to recent bus accidents, questioning the administration's practice of attributing crashes solely to driver error.
BJP committee member Ramakant Gupta separately highlighted passenger discomfort on route A-341 between Goregaon and Antop Hill, where rainwater dripped inside a bus during a recent trip. Gupta noted that committee members had recently inspected depots in Dharavi, Anik, Wadala, Kurla, and Oshivara, demanding that wet lease contractors work with BEST maintenance teams to ensure vehicles are leak-proof and road-worthy.
Responding to the allegations, officials from BEST’s engineering and transport departments maintained that buses undergo regular pre-departure inspections and maintenance. Officials stated that recent crash investigations showed the vehicles were technically sound, attributing most incidents to human error.
To address safety, BEST officials noted that drivers are currently undergoing a mandatory four-week training programme, specifically focused on operating electric buses with automatic transmission following several recent accidents involving e-buses.
