Amid rising deficit, BEST seeks Rs 679 cr for electric bus fleet expansion

By 2025-26, BEST plans to person much than 50% of its fleet arsenic electric, with the fig rising to 8,000 successful the coming years.

BEST is besides moving toward a zero-emission future, aiming to modulation its fleet wholly to electrical buses by 2026-27. Currently, its fleet comprises 3,166 buses, including 2081 connected bedewed lease. The organisation has issued enactment orders for 2,100 azygous decker electrical buses, of which 205 person already been delivered. As galore arsenic 50 of the 1,200 planned double-decker electrical buses are operational. BEST has besides placed an bid for 2,650 much azygous decker electrical buses.

These ambitious plans travel amid expanding fiscal challenges. BEST is projecting a transport part shortage of Rs 2,132 crore for 2025-26.

The cumulative liability of BEST, covering loans, losses, and borrowings, present stands astatine Rs 9,286 crore, a important emergence from Rs 6,400 crore 2 years ago.

The yearly nonaccomplishment for FY 2025-26 is estimated astatine astir Rs 2,200 crore, contempt BEST energy section projecting a nominal surplus of Rs 1 lakh successful its budget.

The shrinking fleet size is different pressing interest owed to which BEST faces difficulties successful maintaining work quality.

BEST’s fiscal strain is exacerbated by delays successful receiving funds. In FY 2024-25, the BMC allocated Rs 928 crore, of which Rs 800 crore was disbursed for infrastructure development.

The remaining Rs 128 crore, designated for the procurement of electrical buses, is yet to beryllium paid. Officials pass that further delays could disrupt fleet enlargement plans.

To heighten operational efficiency, BEST has planned to rotation retired a integer autobus level featuring “tap-in tap-out” systems, operator consoles, and video auditing tools.

In summation to the transport department, the energy section has projected respective upgrades. These see the implementation of a revamped organisation assemblage scheme, the instauration of an precocious organisation absorption system, and the integration of operational exertion done IT advancements.