Mumbai's BEST buses running with unresolved safety defects, internal report reveals

Is BEST operating broken and unsafe buses on Mumbairsquos roads A recent internal inspection report of BEST buses has revealed a worrying pattern of unresolved safety defects by various wetlease contractors raising concerns over commuter safety in the cityrsquos public transport systemBEST chairperson Trushna Vishwasrao told midday that she had called an urgent meeting of BEST officials on Monday to discuss and resolve the issueThe report based on crosschecking by BESTrsquos own staff of previously flagged issues on leased buses a copy of which is with midday shows that multiple buses continued to operate despite serious mechanical faultsWhat does the report sayAccording to the report the buses had problems with drag link assemblies brake liner malfunctions steering wheel defects and damaged gearbox componentsmdashissues that directly affect vehicle control and braking efficiencyIn several cases defects identified as early as January and February 2026 were marked as ldquonot attendedrdquo even during followup inspections conducted in March The report warns that such lapses could lead to drivers losing control of vehicles potentially resulting in serious or fatal accidentsParticularly concerning are repeated mentions of steeringrelated defects and brake failures with remarks such as ldquodriver may lose control over steering systemrdquo and ldquovehicle not able to stoprdquo highlighting the severity of the situationSafety issuesThe findings come at a time when Mumbairsquos bus network remains a critical lifeline for lakhs of daily commuters The continued operation of buses with unresolved safety defects is likely to draw scrutiny from transport authorities and passenger groupsBEST committee member Nitin Nandgaokar who flagged the issue told midday that bus drivers are often forced to drive such buses under pressure ldquoThis is not a minor lapse it is a systemic failure that directly endangers lives When buses officially flagged as unsafe especially with critical defects in brakes and steering are still pushed back onto the roads under the guise of lsquorepairedrsquo it reflects a complete breakdown of accountabilityrdquo he saidldquoIt is concerning that bus drivers are being pressured to operate such vehicles This not only puts passengers at risk but also places an unfair and dangerous burden on frontline staff Every unsafe bus on the road is a potential tragedy in motion Public transport is built on trust and that trust is being severely undermined hererdquo he addedDemands in the petitionA representation has been submitted to the authorities with the following demandsConduct a highlevel and independent inquiry into the matterTake strict action against responsible contractors and officialsCarry out an immediate safety audit of all contract buses across depotsNo bus to be operated without written clearance from the engineering departmentImplement strict monitoring mechanisms to prevent recurrenceThe petition warns that the issue is extremely serious and if the administration fails to take immediate and strict action it will be held fully responsible for any future accidents or untoward incidentsMajor past bus accidentsKurla West December 9 2024 A BEST electric bus Olectramake just 3 months old rammed into pedestrians and vehicles on SG Barve Marg killing 6 and injuring 49 Investigators suspected human error and lack of proper training brakes were found to be functioningBhandup West December 29ndash30 2025 A BEST midi bus ran over pedestrians outside Bhandup West railway station at around 1005 pm killing 4 including 3 women and injuring 9Officials speakBEST officials have yet to issue a detailed response to the report but the revelations have led to calls for stricter maintenance audits and realtime monitoring of fleet safety complianceBEST chairperson actionTrushna Vishwasrao said any negligence would not be tolerated ldquoOn Monday I have summoned a meeting of all concerned BEST officials based on the revelations We will not allow unsafe buses to run on Mumbairsquos roads and endanger commuter safetyrdquoShe also appealed to the government for additional funding to expand the bus fleet and wrote to the BMC chief requesting Rs 3000 crore in addition to the Rs 1000 crore allocated in this yearrsquos BMC budget Vishwasrao said the fleet is rapidly shifting to electric with over a thousand ebuses including AC doubledeckers while older CNGdiesel buses are being phased out Despite modernisation the network remains far smaller than the nearly 3800 buses it had 15ndash20 years ago