The recent tragic accident in Kurla, which claimed more than half dozen lives and injured 42 others, has shaken the faith of Mumbaikars in the safety of the city’s public transportation. The incident, involving a wet lease bus of BEST, has sparked widespread outrage, with citizens demanding accountability and answers. Was it a failure of the administration or the controversial Wet lease model that has taken over a significant part of BEST operations?
Sources said that the bus driver Sanjay More ( 54) lost control of the vehicle, mistakenly pressing the accelerator instead of the brakes in a moment of panic. While the specifics of the accident are still under investigation, the tragic loss of life and injuries have brought into sharp focus the operational and systemic issues plaguing Mumbai’s bus transport services.
Kurla Bus accident accused driver Sanjay More today produced in a Kurla Court and remanded to police custody till 21 December, in Mumbai. | FPJ/ Vijay Gohil
Meanwhile, the 12-meter-long bus, manufactured by Hyderabad-based Olectra Greentech and supplied by Evi Trans company on a wet lease, was examined by forensic science experts and Regional Transport Officers to ascertain if it had any mechanical failures that led to the accident
According to sources, Sanjay More, 54, the driver, lacked sufficient experience in driving electric vehicles (EVs). He had undergone only a few days of training for driving electric buses.
“The driver has worked with various wet lease operators for the last four years. He joined Evi Trans on November 26, 2024,” said an official, adding that before November 26, he was driving other buses.
Spotlight on the Wet Lease Model
The Wet lease model, under which private contractors supply buses to BEST along with driving crews, has been at the center of controversy. Although BEST claims that this model helps with cost control and fleet expansion, concerns about the training and conduct of contracted drivers have been mounting.
Allegations of rash driving and inadequate training of wet lease bus drivers have surfaced repeatedly, but the BEST administration has largely dismissed these concerns until now. The Kurla accident has forced the administration to take action and form high-level committees to investigate the causes and lapses leading to this tragedy.
Comparisons with Delhi’s ‘Blue Line’
The incident has drawn comparisons with Delhi’s infamous ‘Blue Line’ buses, which earned a reputation for reckless driving and poor safety records. Mumbaikars are now questioning whether the reliance on private contractors has compromised the safety standards that were once the hallmark of BEST services. Recalling the ‘Blue Line’ bus services Delhi, Suleman Khan, a 58-year-old resident of Kurla, stated that it’s an eye-opener for BEST, BMC, and the state government. He warned that if the competent authorities fail to take appropriate action, the “Wet Lease” bus services of BEST could become as infamous as the “Blue Line” services.
The Numbers Behind the Model
Currently, BEST operates around 3,000 buses, of which nearly 2,000 are supplied through the Wet lease model. This heavy reliance on private contractors raises critical questions about oversight and accountability. Are these private operators cutting corners to maximize profits? Are drivers adequately trained and incentivized to prioritize safety over speed and efficiency ? Shashank Rao, leader of the workers union, pointed out that the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has been providing safe and affordable public transportation services to Mumbaikars for over 77 years. However, in recent years, the private contractor system has led to repeated incidents that put passengers’ lives at risk.
Rao alleged that contractors do not follow rules, do not provide proper training to workers, and do not maintain buses properly. Rao emphasized that the private contractor system has made BEST bus travel insecure and life-threatening. To make BEST bus travel safe and secure, Rao reiterated his demand to permanently scrap the private contractor system. He also urged that BEST should maintain a fleet of its own buses, which should be operated by the undertaking itself.
A delegation from the Bharatiya Janata Party met with BEST General Manager Anil Diggikar on Tuesday, criticising the decision to hire buses on a wet-lease model and calling for a review. Varsha Gaikwad of Congress also demanded the scrapping of the Wet lease model, citing concerns.
Number of total buses (November 30 )
Total buses: 2913
Wet lease: 1900
BEST owned buses:1013
Number Electric operated buses:711
Number CNG operated buses:1958
Number of other buses including diesel operated: 244
Number of average daily passenger’s around 35 lakh
Total number of 1900 wet lease buses includes,
40 buses of Olectra
275 buses of Evi Trans
