The increasing reliance on wet-lease buses by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking has sparked widespread protests among employees and passengers.
On Thursday morning, the BEST Workers’ Union, along with concerned commuters, organized peaceful demonstrations at various bus depots across the city. Protesters wore black bands and raised slogans against privatization, expressing their dissatisfaction with the administration’s policies.
The protests come amid growing concerns over the privatization of BEST services, with nearly two-thirds of the fleet now operating under wet lease contracts. This outsourcing has extended beyond bus operations to other departments, affecting service quality and causing distress to staff and passengers alike.
Union members criticized the move to privatization, citing its adverse effects on the workforce and commuters. Contracted employees reportedly face low and irregular wages, while maintenance of wet-lease buses has been substandard.
Protesters also highlighted safety concerns, referencing a recent accident in Kurla involving a contracted bus that claimed nine lives.
The union’s slogans, including “Save BEST, Save Mumbai” and “Stop BEST Privatization,” emphasized their demand for a return to the agency’s original model. They called for the expansion of BEST’s fleet to at least 4,000 buses under direct ownership and the recruitment of permanent staff to improve service quality and safety.
Sources said that wet lease system introduced to mitigate rising costs associated with bus operations, maintenance, and employee salaries. However, critics argue that this has compromised service quality and passenger safety while undermining the welfare of contracted employees.
Protesters urged the Chief Minister to intervene and address the “mismanagement” in BEST operations. Suhas Samant, president of the BEST Kamgar Sena, warned that future protests might escalate if their demands are not met promptly.
The union also called on municipal authorities to prioritize restoring BEST’s former glory, emphasizing the need for sufficient investment and operational reforms to ensure passenger safety and reliable public transportation.
