Mumbai’s Wet-Lease Buses Double BEST Buses Accidental Deaths | News from Mumbai

Mumbai: In the last five years, BEST scrapped 2,160 buses while acquiring only 37. Till August this year, the number of buses Buses owned by BEST it fell to 1,061 and has since declined further to 1,021. During this period, BEST’s fleet has steadily declined, with contracts for new buses being awarded mainly to wet lease operators. Activists say the drivers of these operators have been linked to the highest number of accidental deaths.
Data obtained by TOI reveals in the last three years, accidents involving wet lease drivers accounted for 40 deaths — almost double the 22 deaths involving BEST-owned buses. The total fleet has fallen below the 3,000 mark, now standing at 2,911 buses, of which 1,890 are leased and only 1,021 are directly owned by BEST. “The lack of buses has led to growing frustration among commuters,” said RTI activist Jeetendra Ghadge, who obtained fleet statistics. Viral videos show long queues at bus stops, with overcrowded buses arriving or, worse, not arriving at all.
“We have seen numerous cases of reckless driving in Mumbai in the last four years, especially after the introduction of contract buses. A driver carries a huge responsibility, considering that more than 60 passengers are usually on board a crowded bus. The public rightly expects to be safe. and careful driving skills,” said commuter rights activist Rupesh Shelatkar of Aapli BEST Aaplyachsathi. “While full-time drivers get full training from BEST, contract drivers do not have rigorous training.”
Commuter rights activist Irfan Machiwala from Mahim said bus drivers should be made to undergo periodic refresher courses: “Many do not fear the law. Penalties should be strict for reckless driving.”
A bus driver said contract drivers are unhappy that their demands for salary increase and facilities equal to those of full-time bus drivers have not been met and this could affect their work.
A driver said contract drivers detest being paid poorly and not given facilities at par with hired BEST drivers. Activists, unions and former members of the BEST panel are unanimous in demanding that BEST run its own buses, maintaining a fleet of 3,337 as per a 2019 Memorandum of Understanding. The fleet owned by BEST has shrunk by 70% in six years, it said trade union leader Shashank Rao.
Former BEST panel member Sunil Ganacharya said, “It would be catastrophic if BEST depends entirely on wet-lease buses and contract drivers.”