Concerns over the dwindling number of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking’s own buses were raised in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly during the ongoing Budget Session on Thursday, with members questioning the sustainability of the city’s public transport system.
The starred question, jointly raised by MLAs including Parag Alavani, Ameet Satam, Rajan Naik, Captain R. Selvan, Parag Shah, Aslam Shaikh, Vijay Wadettiwar, Amin Patel, Jyoti Gaikwad, Nana Patole, Vishwajeet Kadam, Sanjay Meshram, and Vikas Thakre, sought clarification from Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on the declining fleet of BEST-owned buses.
Fleet shrinks sharply over two years
The legislators pointed out that as of January 2026, only 249 buses owned by BEST – long regarded as Mumbai’s transport lifeline-remain operational. They highlighted that this marks a steep fall from around 1,100 buses in April 2024 and 757 buses in April 2025.
Responding to the query, Shinde confirmed the figures, attributing the decline primarily to the scrapping of buses that have completed their prescribed operational lifespan of 15 years, as per BEST rules.
Shift towards hired buses
The MLAs also raised concerns that Mumbai’s growing commuter demand requires an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 buses. In contrast, the current system is increasingly reliant on hired buses, with apprehensions about their maintenance.
In his reply, Shinde stated that BEST has entered into agreements to procure 6,555 buses on a rental basis, of which 2,518 buses have already been inducted into service. He assured the House that these buses undergo regular technical inspections and that penalties are imposed on contractors for any maintenance lapses.
Procurement plans and budget provisions
Addressing concerns over the shrinking fleet, the Deputy Chief Minister said that adequate steps are being taken to augment bus availability. He informed that provisions have been made in the revised estimates of the 2025–26 budget to procure 3,088 buses through the transport department. This includes 2,542 single-decker buses, 426 midi buses, and 120 air-conditioned double-decker electric buses.
Additionally, BEST is in the process of procuring 1,500 midi AC buses on a rental basis under the Central Government’s PM E-Drive scheme.
Shinde further stated that regular maintenance and technical inspections of BEST’s existing fleet are being carried out, and dismissed concerns about delays, saying “the question does not arise.”
