Citizens Forum Opposes PPP Redevelopment Of 23 Mumbai BEST Bus Depots
The citizens' forum Amchi Mumbai Amchi BEST (AMAB) has strongly opposed a proposal by the Maharashtra government to redevelop 23 Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus depots across Mumbai under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The forum released a statement warning that the commercialisation of these depot lands would lead to the gradual privatisation of the city's public bus service and compromise essential transport infrastructure.
Under the proposed plan, which is awaiting approval from the BEST Committee and the Maharashtra Cabinet, the state aims to modernise 23 depots spread across 132 acres. According to BEST, the project is expected to generate approximately ₹5,000 crore through long-term leasing of the land, which would remain under BEST ownership. The revenue generated is intended to fund the purchase of 5,000 BEST-owned electric buses over the next three to four years.
However, AMAB argued that building commercial structures such as malls, residential towers, theatres, and shopping complexes on depot land would leave insufficient space for crucial operations. The forum stated that commercial builders would likely prioritise financial returns over public transport needs, leaving little room for bus parking, maintenance workshops, and essential staff facilities like canteens, rest rooms, and washrooms.
The citizens' group emphasized that public transport should be treated as an essential service supported by government subsidies rather than a profit-making venture. They pointed to the three-day BEST workers' strike in June as evidence of Mumbai's heavy reliance on the bus network, especially for commuters who cannot afford Metro services and face overcrowded suburban trains. The forum criticised the state government for invoking the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) during the strike instead of addressing worker demands and providing direct financial assistance.
To safeguard the public transport system, AMAB has demanded that the BEST budget be merged with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) budget. The forum has also called for an immediate increase in the government-owned fleet to 6,000 buses, with a long-term goal of 10,000 buses.
Currently, the BEST fleet consists of 2,766 buses, of which the undertaking owns only 249. An additional 1,500 electric buses are currently being inducted on a wet-lease basis under the federal PM E-Drive Scheme. AMAB urged the government to halt the commercial leasing of depot lands and instead focus on strengthening the public fleet through direct financial support.
