BEST Bus Drivers Dismissed Over Safety Concerns Amid Push for Electric Vehicles

Between 2022 and 2024, 58 drivers from BEST and contractor companies in Mumbai were dismissed due to road accidents, according to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Enhancing safety measures, the undertaking is offering advanced training. The fleet is shifting towards electric vehicles and a wet lease operational model.

In a significant safety crackdown, 58 drivers of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) and service contractor companies were dismissed over three years due to road accidents, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced in the legislative council.

Shinde revealed that while 603 drivers were suspended, 63 dismissals occurred for reasons beyond accidents. The BEST undertaking has ramped up its safety protocols by offering extended training for electric bus drivers and practical sessions with a simulator.

Under supervision from Traffic and Engineering Departments, driver conduct is scrutinized, with reckless driving penalized. As the fleet transitions towards electric vehicles, BEST operates over 2,700 buses, recently moving to a wet lease model.