Mumbai: Concerns over the condition of BEST buses resurfaced on Monday as panel members alleged that several buses operating on city roads continue to suffer from maintenance issues, causing inconvenience to commuters, particularly during the ongoing monsoon season.Committee members cited instances of air-conditioned buses operating with faulty doors and buses with rainwater leakages, raising questions over the effectiveness of the transport undertaking’s pre-departure inspection process.Shiv Sena (UBT) neta and BEST committee member Nitin Nandgaonkar said he recently travelled en route 357 (Shivaji Nagar to Mumbai Central) and found that the door of an air-conditioned bus was not closing or locking properly.“An AC bus with a faulty door defeats the very purpose of the service. The cool air escapes continuously, affecting passenger comfort despite commuters paying a minimum fare of Rs 12 for AC travel,” Nandgaonkar said. He alleged that despite assurances from the administration during last week’s committee meeting that engineering and maintenance staff inspect buses before they leave the city’s 27 depots, buses in poor condition continue to be deployed.According to Nandgaonkar, a letter issued by BEST recently stated that 868 buses were found defective, of which 774 were repaired over the past three months. “If so many buses were found with defects, it underlines the need for stricter checks, especially during the monsoon. Commuters who spend their hard-earned money deserve safe and comfortable journeys,” he said.He also linked the issue to the recent rise in bus accidents. “The administration often attributes accidents to driver error, but the condition of buses should not be overlooked. Technical shortcomings can also affect safety and must be addressed seriously,” he added.Another committee member, Ramakant Gupta of the BJP, highlighted passenger discomfort en route A-341 (Goregaon to Antop Hill), where rainwater was reportedly dripping inside the bus during a recent journey.“Commuters should not have to endure water leaking into buses during their daily travel. A few weeks ago, committee members including myself inspected Dharavi, Anik, Wadala, Kurla and Oshivara depots and demanded that all buses be made leak-proof and thoroughly checked before being deployed during the monsoon,” Gupta said, adding that the wet lease contractors should take assistance of BEST maintenance teams for regular servicing of their buses, which will ensure the vehicles are road-worthy.Responding to the allegations, officials from BEST’s engineering and transport departments maintained that buses undergo regular inspections and maintenance before entering service. The officials said investigations into recent bus crashes had found the vehicles to be technically sound, with most incidents attributed to human error.BEST officials further said that drivers are being put through a mandatory four-week training programme, particularly for operating electric buses with automatic transmission, as a large number of recent accidents involved e-buses.However, committee members insisted that passenger comfort and vehicle condition require closer scrutiny, arguing that recurring complaints of faulty doors and water leakages indicate a gap between maintenance claims and commuters’ actual travel experience. As Mumbai’s monsoon continues, they have urged the administration to intensify inspections and ensure buses offer the safe and reliable service that passengers expect.
