The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) fleet in Mumbai has lost 280 buses due to a contract dispute with a wet lease operator. The undertaking has decided to terminate the contract with the contractor, Hansa City Bus Service Private Limited, after they failed to operate the buses since last week. This has caused inconvenience to thousands of commuters in areas like Andheri, Jogeshwari, and Goregaon.
The non-availability of 31-seater mini buses at locations such as Dindoshi, Oshiwara, and Marol has been a major issue for passengers since October 12. The BEST officials have stated that the contractor demanded Rs. 90 crore from the undertaking, leading to financial difficulties in operating the buses.
The withdrawal of these 280 buses has brought the total fleet below 3,000 buses, impacting the transportation services in the city. The BEST Workers’ Union and other organizations have raised concerns about the situation, highlighting the challenges faced by both commuters and employees of the private operator.
The adoption of the wet lease model was intended to address the fiscal crisis of BEST, but it has now complicated matters further. The model, which was supposed to bring cost savings, has proven to be expensive and problematic, putting additional strain on the organization. The depletion of the undertaking’s own fleet, combined with the challenges posed by private contractors, has created a difficult situation for public transportation in Mumbai.
It is crucial for the authorities to address this issue promptly and find a sustainable solution to ensure that commuters are not left stranded and that the transportation services in the city can operate smoothly. The termination of the contract with the wet lease operator marks a significant development in this ongoing dispute, and it remains to be seen how the situation will be resolved in the coming days.
