Mumbai: BEST appears to have not have learned a lesson from the fatal bus tragedy of Dec 2024, just a little over a year ago, which left 9 dead and 40 injured. In the latest mishap at Bhandup, a full-time, experienced BEST driver lost control of a bus on Monday night, and 4 people lost their lives while 10 were injured.After last year’s fatal crash, BEST introduced a comprehensive two-tier training by wet lease operators for drivers on the latest buses with advanced technology. This was followed by training, utilisation of simulators, and implementation of breathalysers at a few depots. BEST also planned to finalise a uniform speed limit for buses operating in Mumbai, with speed governors. Despite these measures, BEST failed to curb mishaps, with two big fatal crashes in a span of a year, said a transport activist.Former BMC opposition leader and former BEST panel member Ravi Raja demanded the BEST administration arrange a sensitisation programme on road safety for all bus drivers in Mumbai—whether BEST staffers or those on wet lease. Considering that they were plying buses with the BEST logo, there had to be accountability, he added. Another former panel member said BEST should not become like the blueline buses, which earned notoriety and a “killer” tag, and were phased out by the Delhi govt in the past.Statistics showed a 43% rise in fatalities involving BEST bus crashes and a 53% increase in injuries in 2024-25 compared with the previous year. From April to Sept of this financial year, 14 people died while 33 were injured in BEST crashes.Passenger rights activist Nikhil Desai said driver training should be conducted exclusively by BEST, and the organisation cannot delegate this responsibility to contractors.BEST general manager Sonia Sethi told TOI a few weeks ago that she directed the staff to complete three weeks of compulsory on-road training and road safety discipline for all drivers. She added the Kurla crash was an eye-opener, and the undertaking was serious about public safety. “We have zero tolerance for bus fatalities,” she said.A senior BEST official also blamed the crowds outside the station area, with illegal hawkers, illegally parked vehicles, and two-wheelers, as a major challenge for drivers who found it stressful to operate buses there. “While drivers should be blamed for negligence, the station area should also be cleared for smoother bus movement,” he said. On Tuesday morning, the Bhandup station West area was cleared of hawkers, and there was adequate space for buses to operate near the bus stops.
