The fleet of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) is touted to include 400 CNG non-air-conditioned single-decker buses and about 100 buses which are to arrive by September 2021.
According to sources, BEST has decided to increase the number of buses in its fleet to 6,000 in the next 2-3 years. At the moment, BEST has 3,323 buses in its fleet, including 1,100 on lease. Moreover, the proposal to include new buses was approved in January 2021. The buses will be leased from one company at a rate of INR 89.91 per km for 10 years. For this, BEST will spend INR 1,942 crore for 10 years.
Meanwhile, about 50 to 100 buses out of 400 were expected to arrive by June 2021. The rest of the buses were scheduled to arrive by November or December. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the second wave of the coronavirus, the process was delayed.
On the other hand, On Tuesday, May 25, the Workers’ Union of BEST stated that all drivers who ply buses for the transport body on wet-lease should be paid COVID allowance of INR 300 per day and INR 50 lakhs financial aid to families in case of death. According to sources, these privileges are given to current drivers employed full time with the enterprise.
While pressing its demands, Shashank Sharad Rao, who is the head of Sangharsh Kaamgar Karmachari Union and BEST Workers' Union, said these drivers are additionally risking lives to ferry important staff and different commuters. So, why ought to they be disadvantaged of the Covid insurance coverage and particular allowances?
He also stated that the BEST administration has not paid INR 300 Covid allowance to their own employees since June-end to December 2020 that comes to INR 60 crores.
ALSO READ: 106 BEST employees die due to COVID-19
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