The citizens’ group ‘Aamchi Mumbai Aamchi BEST’ will stage a protest outside the Mumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters on Thursday, August 27, opposing the proposed redevelopment of 22 BEST depots under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
The organisation has objected to the proposed transfer of BEST depot land to private developers and has accused the civic administration and state government of putting Mumbai’s public transport system at risk.
The redevelopment initiative has been proposed to generate funds for BEST, which is facing severe financial challenges, and enable it to purchase 5,000 buses of its own. The proposal has received approval from the BEST Committee and the Municipal Corporation and will now be sent to the state government for final clearance. A detailed project report will subsequently be prepared.
However, ‘Aamchi Mumbai Aamchi BEST’ has warned that handing over strategically located depot land to private developers under the proposed ‘Kayakalp’ scheme could weaken BEST financially in the long term and affect its ability to provide affordable public transport.
The plan envisages developing facilities including parking spaces for around 36,000 vehicles, schools, hospitals, art galleries, cinema halls and sports centres on the redeveloped sites.
The organisation has questioned the need for such facilities on BEST land when several existing government schools and hospitals are already struggling with inadequate funding and infrastructure. It has also raised concerns over whether ordinary citizens or private developers would benefit more from the redevelopment.
Demand for 10,000 BEST-Owned Buses
The group has demanded that BEST increase its fleet to at least 10,000 self-owned buses instead of relying heavily on contracted vehicles. It has also called for the scrapping of the contract bus system and greater financial support from the municipal corporation.
“Aamchi Mumbai Aamchi BEST” has further demanded that strategically located BEST depots remain under public ownership and that additional funds be provided to strengthen the undertaking’s services.
“Strategic locations of BEST depots should not be given to private builders. There is a need to make BEST services more efficient for Mumbaikars,” said Vidyadhar Date, Coordinator, ‘Aamchi Mumbai Aamchi Best’.
The group said strengthening BEST’s own fleet and providing sustained financial assistance would be a better approach to ensuring the long-term viability of Mumbai’s public transport system.
Source: Loksatta
