Fadnavis Rules Out Sale Of BEST Land For Mumbai Depot Redevelopment Plans
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday ruled out the sale of any land owned by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking in Mumbai, announcing that depot redevelopments at locations including Dahisar and Mankhurd will instead focus on public parking hubs and Marathi theatres.
During a review meeting on the modernization of BEST bus depots, the Chief Minister directed officials to prepare a long-term revival plan. The redevelopment of the properties will be executed through a public-private partnership (PPP) model. Under this arrangement, the ownership of the land and assets will remain entirely with BEST, with projects implemented via long-term leases.
Fadnavis emphasized that the redevelopment must prioritize public amenities over pure commercial exploitation. Among the proposed additions are dedicated cinema halls with a seating capacity of 300 to 400 for Marathi films at select depots, which will offer concessional screening arrangements. The plans also include museums, sports, and cultural facilities.
To address Mumbai's parking shortage, the Chief Minister directed that large-scale parking infrastructure be integrated into the redevelopment. He also instructed officials to explore building transport hubs and bus parking facilities at former octroi check posts in Dahisar, Mankhurd, Anand Nagar in Mulund, LBS Road, and Airoli Naka. This initiative aims to reduce traffic congestion caused by private buses entering the city.
According to BEST General Manager Sonia Sethi, the undertaking plans to modernize all 22 of its bus depots, which span 132 acres across Mumbai, using a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model. The modernization is inspired by transit systems in Singapore, Paris, Hong Kong, and London.
The redevelopment project will also establish support infrastructure for an expanded fleet of 7,000 buses, including electric bus charging stations. Fadnavis has asked officials to prepare a detailed 22-year roadmap for BEST's future requirements, aligning with the state's "Viksit Bharat 2047" vision.
