BEST to induct 5,000 self-owned buses and clear ₹1,751 crore retiree dues in Mumbai
The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking on Thursday announced a major roadmap for Mumbai, which includes the induction of 5,000 self-owned buses over the next three years and the clearance of ₹1,751 crore in pending retirement and gratuity dues for former employees.
BEST General Manager Sonia Sethi presented the undertaking’s financial position and future plans to the civic Standing Committee. The presentation followed the committee’s approval of a ₹1,000-crore financial aid package for the transport provider last week.
During the meeting, Sethi highlighted that Mumbai currently requires around 10,000 buses to comply with central government norms. The planned acquisition of 5,000 self-owned buses is designed to help the undertaking gradually reduce its heavy reliance on the wet-lease model, thereby strengthening its direct operational control over the city's public bus fleet.
The financial roadmap presented by Sethi revealed a stark contrast between BEST's two primary divisions. While the electricity division remained profitable, posting a surplus of ₹115 crore in the 2025-26 period, the transport division continued to struggle, suffering a deficit of ₹1,805 crore. Overall, the cumulative liabilities of the undertaking reached ₹23,296 crore as of March 31, 2026.
To resolve the long-pending issues of its retired workforce, BEST plans to clear the ₹1,751 crore in gratuity and retirement dues within the current financial year. This move follows specific directions issued during a recent review meeting led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
To counter its financial deficits, the undertaking is looking to increase its non-fare revenue streams. Proposed measures include the commercial utilisation of bus infrastructure, advertisement drives, setting up electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and other monetisation efforts.
Additionally, the electricity division will roll out 5,50,000 smart meters across Mumbai. This rollout is intended to improve billing efficiency, curb electricity theft, and reduce distribution losses.
