BEST To Induct 5,000 Self-Owned Buses in Mumbai Over Next Three Years
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to induct 5,000 self-owned buses over the next three years in Mumbai. Announced on Thursday by BEST General Manager Sonia Sethi during a presentation before the civic Standing Committee, the plan aims to reduce the public transport body's dependence on the controversial wet-lease model and address its shrinking fleet.
The presentation came shortly after the Standing Committee approved a Rs 1,000-crore financial aid package for the cash-strapped undertaking. Sethi highlighted that Mumbai requires nearly 10,000 buses to meet Central government norms, emphasizing the urgent need for fleet expansion.
The expansion serves as a major course correction for BEST, which has increasingly relied on privately operated wet-lease buses amid mounting financial distress. According to figures shared during the presentation, BEST’s cumulative liabilities stood at a staggering Rs 23,296 crore as of March 31, 2026. While its electricity division recorded a surplus of Rs 115 crore during the 2025-26 financial year, the transport division logged losses of Rs 1,805 crore.
To address ongoing labor issues, Sethi announced that BEST plans to clear pending retirement and gratuity dues worth Rs 1,751 crore owed to former employees within the current financial year. This decision follows directives issued during a review meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The revival roadmap also includes aggressive non-fare revenue generation measures, such as commercial use of transport infrastructure, advertisements, and EV charging stations. Additionally, the electricity wing plans to install 5.5 lakh smart meters to curb power theft and reduce distribution losses.
This major policy shift follows a massive BEST workers' strike that crippled Mumbai's public transport network between June 19 and June 21, leaving lakhs of commuters stranded. The strike was withdrawn after the state government agreed to a monthly salary hike of Rs 3,000 for permanent employees and Rs 2,000 for contract workers, alongside assurances of improved workplace facilities.
