The BESTWorkers Union has raised serious concerns regarding alleged corruption and non-compliance within the wet lease bus system operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking. In a formal complaint submitted to BEST management on 28th May, the union called for a thorough investigation into the wet lease contract system and the daily operations of the contractors responsible for providing bus services to the city.
The letter, written to the general manager of BEST, was signed by Shashank Rao, general secretary of the BEST Workers Union. BEST operates nearly 2,700 buses, serving an average of over 30 lakh passengers daily.
The complaint highlights what the union describes as a failure by contractors to meet their contractual obligations, specifically the provision of 100% bus service, despite being contractually required to do so. The union claims that, although the contractors are supposed to ensure full service between Monday and Saturday, with buses available 20 minutes prior to the scheduled time, there have been numerous instances where these conditions have not been met.
In February 2018, the BEST committee approved a proposal to procure buses on a wet lease basis as a cost-effective solution to reduce capital investment while improving public transportation across Mumbai and its suburbs. The move was aimed at providing better services to passengers and reducing operational costs for the city’s transportation network. However, the union claims that the implementation of this plan has been marred by corruption, with contractors failing to adhere to the terms of the contract.
According to the terms laid out in the contract, contractors are required to ensure 100% service, which includes providing an average of 18 hours of service per day, as well as complying with the daily timetables set by BEST. Contractors who fail to meet these requirements are supposed to face penalties, including a daily fine of Rs 5,000. Despite these clear provisions, the union asserts that many contractors are failing to provide the full bus service as agreed.
One of the major points raised by the union in their complaint is the alleged falsification of reports by depot officials. The union claims that depot officials are falsely reporting that full service is being provided, which is leading to inaccurate records being sent to the control room. As a result, the union alleges that contractors continue to receive payments despite their failure to meet contractual obligations.
Additionally, the union points to a potential conflict of interest, alleging that many retired officers from BEST’s transport department are now working for the contractors who supply buses to the organization on a wet lease basis. These personal ties, the union argues, have led to a lack of accountability, with no punitive action being taken against contractors who are not fulfilling their obligations.
The union also claims that the failure of contractors to meet their service requirements is causing significant financial losses for BEST, undermining the goal of reducing operating costs through the leasing model. Rather than achieving financial savings, the system has reportedly led to revenue shortfalls and increased costs for the city’s public transportation system.
In response to these issues, the union has called for a full investigation into the situation. The Workers Union is demanding an inquiry into whether contractors are meeting their obligations and whether any collusion between contractors and BEST officers is contributing to the financial losses.
