Office bearers of the “Aapli BEST Aaplyachsaathi” organisation on April 7 paid a courtesy visit to the Chairperson of the BEST Committee, Mrs Trishna Vishwasrao. During the meeting, detailed and constructive discussions were held on several urgent issues concerning BEST bus services and challenges faced by passengers.
As per the officials, a memorandum was also submitted by the organisation, which outlined key commuter concerns in a structured manner. Following the discussion, Chairperson Vishwasrao acknowledged all the issues and conveyed a positive and receptive stance.
As per the memorandum, major concerns raised included increased waiting time at bus stops, shortage of buses, disruption of bus routes, obstructions caused by unauthorised parking, and financial as well as operational challenges arising from wet-leased (contractual) buses.
During the meeting, the organisation`s representative, Gaurav Chinderkar, highlighted specific issues related to wet-leased buses, including frequent route disruptions due to inadequate charging infrastructure, prolonged unavailability of buses at stops, unprofessional conduct of contractual staff, poor planning by contractors, and deficiencies in vehicle maintenance.
However, Chairperson Vishwasrao, in reply, stated, “The BEST is actively working towards procuring self-owned buses and that a new regulatory framework will be implemented to ensure stricter control over contractors.”
Demand for extension of BEST services from Kharegaon to Retibandar
A key demand raised during the meeting was the extension of bus route number A-494 from Kharegaon Retibandar to Mumbra Railway Station.
BEST Chairperson Vishwasrao further assured that a separate meeting would be held with BEST transport officials to arrive at a positive resolution.
Discussions on premium buses running parallel with BEST buses
The issue of premium buses operated through the “Chalo” app running parallel to existing BEST routes was also raised by the organisation`s president, Mr Rupesh Shelatkar. Addressing this concern, Vishwasrao further clarified that “Chalo” has been permitted to operate only premium services, and any unauthorised parallel operations on regular BEST routes will invite immediate action.
Furthermore, the secretary of AAPli BEST Aaplyachsaath, Siddhesh Mhatre, also drew attention to the long-term financial risks associated with increasing contractual operations.
Mhatre pointed out that BEST’s losses have escalated from approximately Rs 1,200 crore in 2020 to an estimated Rs 8,000 crore at present. He further emphasised the need for a policy review, stating that excessive reliance on contractual systems could adversely impact the financial stability of the undertaking.
In light of increasing competition, Aapli BEST Aaplyachsaath also stressed the need for BEST to expand its service network and provide more reliable, efficient, and commuter-friendly services. Following the discussions, there was a shared expectation that concrete decisions would be taken in the near future.
