Halt privatisation of BEST services: Workers’ union to BMC
6 days, 20 hours ago

Halt privatisation of BEST services: Workers’ union to BMC

Hindustan Times  

Mumbai: If the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport Undertaking wants to restore its former glory and regain people’s trust, the privatisation of its bus services must be halted immediately. This was the demand made by the BEST Kamgar Sena, a workers’ union, in a letter sent to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in the aftermath of the BEST bus accident in Kurla on December 9, in which eight people were killed and 41 injured. Halt privatisation of BEST services: Workers’ union to BMC In the letter addressed to BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani, BEST Kamgar Sena president Suhas Samant and vice-president Anil Kokil wrote that the civic body should focus on investing in a self-owned fleet of buses that’s directly under its direct control rather than having a wet-lease model. The electric bus involved in the Kurla accident belonged to one of BEST’s wet-lease contractors, which provide both the buses and the drivers. The one who was responsible for the accident had no prior experience to drive a BEST bus.” Equally concerning, added Kokil, was the inadequate training provided to the drivers of these contract buses.

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History of this topic

BEST services resume in Kurla 4 days after crash that killed 7, injured 42
1 week, 2 days ago

BEST services resume in Kurla 4 days after crash that killed 7, injured 42

Hindustan Times  

MUMBAI: BEST services resumed in the crowded area around Kurla railway station on Friday afternoon -- four days after the accident, following which services were suspended. An officer from Kurla police station said, “BEST had stopped services on this route apprehensive of backlash from angry crowds. Residents who were facing trouble due to non-availability of buses are relieved as auto …

Citizens, unions to come together to save BEST on 77th anniversary
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Citizens, unions to come together to save BEST on 77th anniversary

Hindustan Times  

MUMBAI: As the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport Undertaking completes 77 years on August 7, a clutch of different activities have been planned by worried unions and commuter organisations to keep the moribund organisation from a further downfall. On Wednesday, public meetings on measures to save BEST will be held, while transport unions will urge political parties to come together …

Beleaguered BEST seeks funds from BMC to buy more buses
1 year, 4 months ago

Beleaguered BEST seeks funds from BMC to buy more buses

Hindustan Times  

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport has sought ₹3,419 crore from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to procure 2,237 buses. In a letter written on June 16 to Iqbal Chahal, BMC commissioner, Vijay Singhal, general manager, BEST, sought funding for purchasing buses in a phased manner. So, the total owned fleet will be 1,100 buses after the scrapping of 2,237 …

Privatisation not the BEST policy
1 year, 9 months ago

Privatisation not the BEST policy

Hindustan Times  

MUMBAI Not many years ago, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking was widely regarded :as an exemplary public bus system in India. The trouble is that BEST has shrunk its own fleet from 4,700 buses in 2011 to a measly 1,691 today – simply to ‘promote’ privatisation. The BEST’s own data in the past showed that the cost per passenger …

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