BMC Panel Approves Rs 1,000 Crore Financial Aid for Mumbai's BEST

On Thursday, June 18, 2026, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) civic standing committee approved a proposal to disburse Rs 1,000 crore to the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking in Mumbai. The funding, which had been delayed from an earlier meeting, is set to provide a major financial boost to the transport utility's operations.

The decision was finalized after BEST sent a representative to present details on the undertaking's financial health, resolving objections raised during a previous committee meeting on June 12.

Prabhakar Sawant, the chief accounts officer and financial adviser for BEST, submitted a detailed statement on the organization's finances to the committee. According to Sawant, 70 percent of the newly approved Rs 1,000 crore aid will be used to clear pending dues for employees, while the remaining 30 percent will serve as working capital.

The release of these funds follows a history of substantial municipal support. BMC records show that between the fiscal years 2012-13 and 2025-26, the corporation has provided a total of Rs 12,312 crore in financial assistance to BEST.

During the meeting, standing committee members expressed their displeasure over the absence of BEST General Manager Sonia Sethi. In response, standing committee chairperson Prabhakar Shinde called for a joint meeting to be held at a later date between Sethi and senior BMC officials.

The committee also reviewed how previous financial aid was allocated. Out of the Rs 1,000 crore provided to BEST in the 2025-26 fiscal year, Rs 606 crore was spent on gratuity and employee benefits, which included Rs 112 crore for pending Covid allowances.

For the 2026-27 fiscal year, Rs 1,000 crore has been earmarked for BEST, of which Rs 500 crore was already disbursed on June 6. From that earlier disbursement, Rs 350 crore has been designated specifically for the gratuity benefits of retired employees.