140 Electric Buses Lie Idle as BEST's Fleet Hits New Low

Had there been sufficient trained staff, the buses would not have been lying idle Hussain Indorewala, co-convenor of a citizen's group

- Ateeq Shaikh

MUMBAI: At a time when Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking's (BEST's) fleet has shrunk to its lowest in the last two decades at 2,799, 140 new electric buses are lying idle at Ghatkopar and Vikhroli bus depots for over a month.

In 2009, there were 4,037 buses in BEST's fleet, which increased to 4,700 in 2011, only to decline to 4,288 in 2014. Now, just over a decade later, the fleet's strength stands at 2,799.

Another 140 new electric buses are lying idle at two depots for the last 45 days.

Two people in the know of the matter shared with Hindustan Times that these buses belong to Olectra Greentech, one of the three wet lease operators BEST has on board.