Mumbai's BEST Bus Services Receive Major Financial Support From BMC With Rs 1,000 Crore Allocation In FY26 Budget

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has earmarked Rs 1,000 crore in its FY26 budget for the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) services, news agency PTI reported.

Operating as the city’s second-largest public transit network after the suburban trains, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) manages around 3,000 buses, which serve over 30 lakh daily commuters.

The BMC disclosed in its Tuesday budget presentation that it allocated the funds for BEST despite having significant financial obligations of its own.

"Although BMC itself has a huge requirement of funds towards its ongoing projects and other important objectives, a total provision of Rs 1000 crore is proposed in 2025-26 as a grant to BEST undertaking considering its financial position," the document was quoted as saying by PTI.

According to the budget documents, the allocated funds are intended for infrastructure development, buying capital equipment, repaying loans, wet leasing buses, paying revisions, daily operations, the Intelligent Transport Management System (ITMS) project, Diwali bonuses of employees, pensioner dues and electricity bills.

The document notes that as per the state directives, BMC will contribute Rs 128.65 crore, its 5 per cent share, towards the procurement and deployment of 2,000 electric buses for Mumbai. It remains unclear whether this sum is included in the Rs 1,000 crore assistance or allocated separately.

The BMC highlighted that it has provided Rs 11,304.59 crore in financial aid to BEST, which is financially bleeding and its accumulated loss amount is around Rs 9,500 crore.

Furthermore, the document noted that the 15th Finance Commission has approved Rs 992 crore for the purchase of electric buses by BEST.

Out of this, Rs 493.38 crore has been received and already distributed, with the balance of Rs 498.62 crore to be disbursed upon receipt.

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