In the past five years, 834 accidents involving BEST buses have claimed 88 lives in Mumbai, with the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) administration disbursing Rs 42.40 crore as financial compensation to victims and their families. The grim data, revealed through an RTI query filed by activist Anil Galgali, underscores the urgent need for improved safety measures.
According to the detailed response provided by BEST Senior Transport Officer Egal Benjamin, 352 accidents involved BEST buses, resulting in 51 fatalities, while private contractors accounted for 482 accidents, causing 37 deaths. The years 2022-23 and 2023-24 saw the highest fatalities, with 21 deaths recorded each year.
Over five years, Rs 42.40 crore was paid across 494 cases, with the highest compensation of Rs 12.40 crore disbursed in 2022–23 for 107 cases. Other years saw payouts of Rs 9.55 crore (2019-20), Rs 3.44 crore (2020-21), Rs 9.45 crore (2021-22), and Rs 7.54 crore (2023-24).
The administration also reported disciplinary actions against its staff. Twelve employees were dismissed in fatal accident cases, while two were terminated for incidents causing personal injury. Additionally, 24 employees faced suspension for personal injury cases, with others subjected to warnings, recoveries, and demotions.
RTI activist Anil Galgali emphasised the need for stricter safety protocols and greater accountability from both the BEST administration and its employees to prevent further tragedies. These statistics, he noted, highlight the pressing responsibility of BEST to prioritise passenger and public safety.
