The financial help from the BMC to its transport wing has been increasing since the past few years
People board BEST buses near Gateway of India. File pic/Bipin Kokate
The BEST Undertaking has sought Rs 6,650 crore from the BMC to keep its transport services running. The amount is almost equal to the total capital fund the civic body utilised on all projects throughout the financial year.
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Though the civic administration hasn’t approved it yet, the BEST could become a burden for the BMC in recent years. The financial help from the BMC to its transport wing has been increasing since the past few years. It helped the BEST with Rs 151.35 crore over four financial years, from 2015 to 2019. Thereafter, it has allotted Rs 4,300 crore—half of it in 2019-20, Rs 750 crore in the current financial year, as well as Rs 406 crore loan for pending gratuity payment to 3,649 employees.
A crowded BEST bus on the WEH, at Borivli. File pic/Satej Shinde
According to the note attached with the budget and approved in the BMC house in December, the BEST expected a financial deficit of Rs 1,887 crore in 2020-21, and it asked for an aid of Rs 6,650 crore, including Rs 2,805 crore for capital funding. The civic administration has now sent the notice of resolution to the standing committee for information. The resolution needs the administration’s approval before implementation.
‘Not at the cost of BMC’
“The BEST has to survive, but not at the cost of the BMC. The civic corporation’s budget will crumble under the pressure of such a financial burden. The amount is almost equal to the funding of all projects across the city in a year. What is the transport wing doing to get out of its financial crisis? The BEST will never try to survive on its own if the BMC continues to take the burden,” said Ravi Raja, leader of Opposition, BMC.
A senior BMC official told mid-day that the corporation is committed to help the BEST. Two years ago, the BMC suggested several measures, like slashing minimum ticket price to Rs 5, increasing the fleet, adding small buses, etc., he said. The civic official added that the BEST may get aid from the Centre as well as the state government for the electric fleet and would not need the complete funding from the BMC. Another senior official said, “We will verify the BEST’s request and its requirement for smooth operations, and take an appropriate decision.”
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