Mumbaikars will have to endure bumpy ride on 100 BEST buses

BEST committee members on Tuesday rejected a proposal to undertake repair work on 100 rickety buses as they were not provided details required for outsourcing the job.

You will continue to endure a bumpy ride aboard the 100 rickety buses which urgently need repairs after BEST committee members on Tuesday rejected a proposal to undertake repair work as they were not provided details required for outsourcing the job.

HT Image

The administration has proposed to undertake overhauling of 100 buses acquired in 2004-05. These buses have developed structural damage including loose screws which results in wobbling and noise. The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 2.47 crore and the work was to be outsourced to an engineering company.

Thus far, all BEST buses were attended to internally. This would be the first time that repairs will be undertaken externally – the primary reason why committee members rejected the proposal.

“The administration should explain why outsourcing is required. Besides, if the buses need urgent repair work then why they are still in operation,” said Kedar Hombalkar, BEST committee member.

Ravikant Ramchandra Deshpande, deputy general manager (Transport) said:

“BEST has a fleet of 4,000 buses, of which 100 buses are the worst affected and need immediate repair. This is major repair work involving opening of the entire bus; since we don’t have sufficient equipment it is being outsourced.”