Proposing a number of upgrades to its bus fleet, the Brihanmumbai Electrical energy Provide and Transport (BEST) sought an extra Rs 679 crore in its 2025-26 funds offered to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Company (BMC) on Thursday. The proposed upgrades consists of changing 510 growing older buses with 273 single-decker and 237 mini air-conditioned electrical buses.
With the extra Rs 679 crore , the entire grant requested by BEST from the BMC has reached Rs 2,812 crore.
By 2025-26, BEST plans to have greater than 50% of its fleet as electrical, with the quantity rising to eight,000 within the coming years.
BEST can be shifting towards a zero-emission future, aiming to transition its fleet fully to electrical buses by 2026-27. Presently, its fleet includes 3,166 buses, together with 2081 on moist lease. The organisation has issued work orders for two,100 single decker electrical buses, of which 205 have already been delivered. As many as 50 of the 1,200 deliberate double-decker electrical buses are operational. BEST has additionally positioned an order for two,650 extra single decker electrical buses.
These formidable plans come amid growing monetary challenges. BEST is projecting a transport division deficit of Rs 2,132 crore for 2025-26.
The cumulative legal responsibility of BEST, overlaying loans, losses, and borrowings, now stands at Rs 9,286 crore, a major rise from Rs 6,400 crore two years in the past.
The annual loss for FY 2025-26 is estimated at practically Rs 2,200 crore, regardless of BEST electrical energy division projecting a nominal surplus of Rs 1 lakh in its funds.
The shrinking fleet measurement is one other urgent concern attributable to which BEST faces difficulties in sustaining service high quality.
BEST’s monetary pressure is exacerbated by delays in receiving funds. In FY 2024-25, the BMC allotted Rs 928 crore, of which Rs 800 crore was disbursed for infrastructure improvement.
The remaining Rs 128 crore, designated for the procurement of electrical buses, is but to be paid. Officers warn that additional delays might disrupt fleet enlargement plans.
To boost operational effectivity, BEST has deliberate to roll out a digital bus platform that includes “tap-in tap-out” methods, driver consoles, and video auditing instruments.
Along with the transport division, the electrical energy division has proposed a number of upgrades. These embrace the implementation of a revamped distribution sector scheme, the introduction of a sophisticated distribution administration system, and the mixing of operational know-how by IT developments.
