Mumbai: The BMC suggested 15-point reforms to the BEST to improve efficiency and increase revenue, at a time when the undertaking estimated losses to the tune of Rs 2,439 crore for 2026-27 in its latest budget and was seeking a Rs 4,000 crore grant.The reforms included ways to strengthen the power distribution network, embark on power generation apart from distribution, prevent migration of consumers, route rationalisation, proper parking facilities for buses, charging infra and using additional plots for setting up public charging stations, non-fare box revenue, a special committee of experts to improve bus transportation across the city, special squads for prevent power thefts and recovery of pending power dues.BEST planned to reply to the reforms while submitting its budget copy to the civic corporation. BEST officials said that the undertaking had already undertaken measures on all the reforms mentioned by BMC and would be sending a detailed reply to the civic corporation soon. A copy of the replies was circulated among BEST panel members on Monday.In its reply, BEST mentioned that its non-fare box revenue increased from 293 crore in 2024-25 to Rs 388 crore in 2025-26, while it recovered Rs 2 crore in 154 power thefts detected in 2025-26.BEST general manager Sonia Sethi said that the undertaking had sought a grant of around Rs 4,000 crore from BMC — which included Rs 1,500 crore towards pending retirement dues and gratuity for staffers, while the remaining amount was intended to bridge the revenue gap in bus operations.BEST panel member Sunil Ganacharya on Monday demanded that there should be a detailed discussion on the reforms before any submissions were made before the civic corporation.
