BEST Panel Finds Leaks and Defects in Wet Lease Buses at Oshiwara Depot
During a surprise weekend inspection at the Oshiwara bus depot in Mumbai, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) panel members discovered water leaks and mechanical defects in several wet-leased buses. The inspection, conducted by committee members Ramakant Gupta, Ajay Singh, and Santosh Medhekar, exposed critical maintenance issues in both newly delivered and older vehicles.
The three-member panel reviewed a batch of 43 recently delivered buses stationed at the depot. To simulate heavy monsoon rain, the team used high-pressure water jets in the bus-washing section of the depot. The test revealed that water was entering some of the brand-new buses, which are currently parked at the depot awaiting final clearance from the Regional Transport Office (RTO).
Committee member Ramakant Gupta, who collected dripping water in his folded palms during the test, stated that allowing vehicles with known leakage points onto the road during the monsoon would put commuters at risk and expose passengers to uncomfortable travel conditions.
According to panel member Ajay Singh, four leaking buses had been identified a few days prior and brought to the depot for repairs. Despite these reports, Singh noted that the team witnessed even more buses with similar water dripping from the roof during the weekend check, alongside other defects.
The panel members alleged that the contractor had covered earlier leakage points with temporary "sticker-like patches." These measures appeared insufficient, as water continued to seep into the vehicles during the high-pressure water test.
During their checks of the older fleet at the depot, the panel members recorded several other safety hazards. These issues included passenger doors failing to shut as intended, reduced visibility through the front windscreens, weak rear-view visibility, and instances where buses appeared to move despite the handbrake being fully engaged.
Following the surprise visit, the committee members directed BEST officials and wet lease contractors to identify and rectify all leakage points and mechanical faults before the buses are cleared for public operations.
