BMC Clears Rs 28,000-Crore Plan to Redevelop 22 BEST Bus Depots Across Mumbai
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) General Body late Tuesday night approved a Rs 28,000-crore plan to redevelop 22 Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) bus depots across Mumbai. The proposal was passed around 12:37 am by the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance after more than two hours of debate, despite opposition from the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT).
The plan aims to transform ageing bus depots into integrated urban hubs while keeping them operational as active bus terminals. The project will be executed under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), with BEST retaining ownership of the land. The proposal will now move to the Urban Development Department and the State Cabinet for scrutiny and policy approval before returning to BEST and the BMC for final clearance.
BEST owns 27 bus depots covering 7.70 lakh square metres across the city. Under the plan, 22 depots comprising 2.51 lakh square metres of built-up area have been identified for commercial, residential, and social infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, staff housing, sports facilities, and public parking. To ensure financial viability, BEST has sought an increase in permissible Floor Space Index (FSI) from 1.3 to 7. Among the remaining depots, Kurla depot has already undergone redevelopment, while Dharavi and Kalakilla depots are designated for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, and Anik and Pratiksha Nagar depots will be used for the Metro-11 project.
BEST presented the redevelopment as essential for its financial revival. The undertaking currently carries an accumulated deficit of Rs 7,322 crore and total liabilities of Rs 14,323 crore. BEST Committee Chairperson Trushna Vishwasrao defended the proposal, stating that revenue generation is vital to address mounting debt, clear pending employee dues, and fund the Rs 6,500-crore requirement to procure 5,000 new buses.
Opposition leaders strongly criticised the decision to involve private developers. Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Yashodhar Phanse argued that the civic body should financially support BEST and carry out depot redevelopment on its own rather than handing over 2.5 lakh square metres of prime land. Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi pointed out that Rs 302 crore remains pending from five depots leased out in 2017 and demanded a white paper on all previously transferred BEST land parcels.
Following the debate, Mayor Ritu Tawde put the proposal to a vote, and it was cleared on the strength of the ruling majority.
