Mumbai: BEST to receive grant of Rs 600 crore from BMC

BEST bus

The BEST will soon receive a fund from the BMC in order to improve it's financial condition as it is reeling under a loss of Rs 2,500 crore. The standing committee, on Wednesday, approved a proposal to release funds worth Rs 600 crore to the transport body of BEST.

"The BMC has laid down various conditions for the BEST to fulfil in order to receive this money," said officials. The BMC has asked BEST to increase its fleet of buses from 3,200 to 7,000 as well as its per bus passenger ratio (filling the capacity of the buses). The BMC expects the BEST get these buses on a wet lease. While earlier the BMC had said that it will be a monthly grant for a year, the proposal approved was only of Rs 600 crore instead of Rs 1200 crore. The BEST has already initiated the procurement of 450 buses.

Also Read: Uber could help you book a seat on BEST

The transport body has also been asked to reduce the minimum fare to Rs 5, as the officials believed that it will help attract more passengers. An audit of the funds allotted to BEST will be done by the BMC officials. However, if the BEST fails to meet the conditions, the BMC will have have the powers to stop the further instalments of the payment.

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