BMC to Provide Rs 500 Crore to BEST Before Diwali for Gratuity Payments
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is expected to release Rs 500 crore in financial assistance to the financially stressed BEST undertaking ahead of the upcoming Diwali festival. The capital injection is set to bring major relief to the municipal transport operator, with the funds earmarked primarily to clear long-pending gratuity payments owed to retired employees as well as to bolster the overall financial position of the undertaking across Mumbai.
Details regarding the financial aid were highlighted during recent official proceedings. According to available information, gratuity payments have already been disbursed to staff members who retired up to September 2024. The announcement was formally made by Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde during BEST’s Foundation Day celebrations on August 7.
Speaking at the Foundation Day event, Tawde assured citizens that the transit service would maintain its commitment to public service. She stated that, as in the past, BEST will continue to provide quality services to Mumbai residents in the years ahead.
In addition to the financial support, public transit officials detailed key operational plans to upgrade the fleet. BEST committee chairperson Trushna Vishwasrao stated that the undertaking plans to procure 5,000 new buses on its own in the near future. This strategic move toward self-procurement is expected to reduce the organization's current dependence on wet-lease arrangements, while simultaneously helping to lower the number of accidents.
The municipal support comes at a crucial juncture as the transport utility pursues a comprehensive overhaul. According to a fresh proposal submitted by General Manager Sonia Sethi, BEST requires approximately Rs 28,000 crore to fully revitalise and transform the undertaking.
In alignment with these funding requirements, the BEST panel officially approved the first long-term plan under the ‘BEST Transformation Project’ last Tuesday. The decision marks the formal commencement of a broader effort to restructure the bus network, settle pending staff liabilities, and modernize public transit operations across the city.
