The Maharashtra government has clarified that no land owned by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking will be sold as part of its proposed depot redevelopment programme. Instead, the state plans to modernise depot properties through a public-private partnership (PPP) model while retaining ownership of all land and assets with BEST.
During a review meeting on the redevelopment and modernisation of BEST depots, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed officials to prepare a long-term strategy aimed at strengthening the undertaking’s operations while creating public amenities and supporting employee welfare.
The proposed redevelopment will be implemented through long-term lease arrangements and is expected to include modern depot infrastructure, employee housing, public parking facilities, commercial spaces and electric bus charging stations.
Emphasising that redevelopment should serve broader public needs, Fadnavis suggested incorporating cultural, recreational and community-oriented facilities within the projects. He proposed the creation of dedicated theatres with seating capacities of 300 to 400 people for screening Marathi films at selected depot locations, along with concessional arrangements for film exhibitions.
Addressing Mumbai’s growing parking challenges, the Chief Minister instructed authorities to integrate large-scale parking infrastructure into redevelopment plans. He also called for examining the feasibility of transport hubs and bus parking facilities at former octroi check-post locations, including Dahisar, Mankhurd, Anand Nagar in Mulund, LBS Road and Airoli Naka, to reduce congestion caused by private buses entering the city.
Officials informed the meeting that BEST intends to redevelop all 22 bus depots spread across 132 acres using the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model.
BEST General Manager Sonia Sethi said the modernisation programme draws inspiration from public transport systems in cities such as Singapore, Paris, Hong Kong and London. The redevelopment plan will also support a future fleet of 7,000 buses.
Fadnavis further directed officials to prepare a 22-year roadmap for BEST under the state’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, focusing on future transport needs, financial sustainability and employee welfare.
Source: The Times of India
