MUMBAI: It’s not every day that a police complaint is filed over a missing bus stop. Public transport undertaking BEST did exactly that after a newly rebuilt bus shelter in Andheri (E) by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel set off a controversy over permissions, public assets and the disappearance of the original structure.Shiv Sena (UBT) member Sachin Patil questioned the legitimacy of the shelter at Shree Andheri KVO Seva Samaj Chowk on Old Nagardas Road in Friday’s BEST committee meet. The structure displays the BEST logo, signboards crediting Patel (Kaka) for its construction and a list of bus stops. A senior BEST official said they were surprised to find the original shelter missing, and filed a police complaint.BEST has since filed a police “missing complaint” and is seeking details of how the new structure came up. Patil sought to know whether approvals had been obtained from BEST, BMC and traffic authorities, whether a tendering process was followed, who funded the project and who authorised the use of the BEST logo.Patel said, “There is no illegal work here. We have taken proper permissions from the BEST as well as the BMC ward office and the necessary NOCs required to take over the old bus stop and construct the new one.” He said MLA funds were used to revamp the shelter, adding that his name appeared on it because the work was funded from his allocation. He denied any illegality or a “missing bus stop” and said he would respond to queries from the BEST panel or its chairperson, Trushna Vishwasrao, who too is from Sena. Patil said the controversy also raised concerns over ad revenue, which BEST earns through contracts linked to bus shelters. Unauthorised rebuilding or modification of shelters could set a precedent, he said.Vishwasrao assured members she would obtain details by the next meeting. She also ordered inspections of other bus stops modified by political party leaders. BEST GM Sonia Sethi called for verification of whether MLA, MP or other public funds were used. Sena (UBT) member Nitin Nandgaonkar demanded stringent action if an unauthorised takeover was established. “We demand a thorough probe and how the original bus stop went missing,” he said.
