A total of 58 bus drivers employed by the civic-run Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) and its contractor companies were dismissed between 2022 and 2024 due to road accidents, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde informed the Legislative Council on Monday, reported news agency PTI.
In a written reply to a question raised in the House, Shinde said disciplinary action had been taken against hundreds of drivers during the three-year period as part of efforts to improve road safety and accountability within Mumbai’s public transport system.
58 drivers dismissed due to accidents over three years
Providing details of the action taken by the BEST undertaking, Shinde said that 58 drivers were terminated from service after being found responsible for accidents between 2022 and 2024, reported PTI.
“In three years from 2022 to 2024, 58 bus drivers from BEST and service contractor companies were dismissed due to road accidents,” the deputy chief minister said in his written response, reported PTI.
He added that disciplinary action has also been taken against several other drivers involved in accidents during the same period.
Hundreds of drivers suspended over accident-related incidents
According to the data shared in the Legislative Council, a large number of drivers were also suspended as part of internal disciplinary measures.
Shinde said 603 drivers were suspended due to accidents, while 574 drivers faced suspension in other cases during the same period. In addition, 63 drivers were dismissed for reasons unrelated to accident cases, reported PTI.
The action forms part of the transport undertaking’s broader efforts to maintain safety standards and enforce strict driving discipline among bus operators.
Advanced training introduced to prevent accidents
The deputy chief minister said the BEST administration has introduced several measures to reduce road accidents and improve driver performance.
One of the key initiatives includes extending the duration of advanced training programmes for drivers operating electric buses, which are increasingly being inducted into the city’s public transport fleet.
Shinde also informed the House that 200 drivers have undergone practical training using a bus driving simulator system, allowing them to improve their driving skills and response to challenging road conditions, reported PTI.
Monitoring of driver behaviour on city roads
In addition to training initiatives, officials from the traffic and engineering departments are monitoring the driving patterns of bus drivers on city roads.
Shinde said that authorities regularly review driver behaviour, and strict action is taken against drivers found driving recklessly or violating safety norms, reported PTI.
These monitoring efforts aim to strengthen accountability among drivers and reduce accidents involving public transport vehicles in Mumbai.
BEST continues expansion with electric buses
The BEST undertaking operates one of India’s largest public bus networks, serving millions of commuters across Mumbai and neighbouring areas.
In recent years, the organisation has been rapidly transitioning towards an electric bus fleet as part of the city’s push for cleaner and more sustainable public transport.
BEST has also increasingly adopted a “wet lease” operational model, where buses are provided by private contractors while operations are managed by the transport undertaking.
As of late 2025, the BEST fleet comprised roughly 2,700 to over 3,100 buses running across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Recent accident highlights safety concerns
The issue of bus safety has remained in focus following several high-profile accidents in recent years.
In one of the most recent incidents, four people were killed and ten others injured on December 29, 2025, after they were knocked down by a reversing BEST bus.
The government has since emphasised stricter monitoring, enhanced driver training and disciplinary action to improve safety standards in Mumbai’s public transport system.
(With inputs from PTI)
