Fadnavis Clears BEST Depot Redevelopment, Rules Out Land Sale
“The operation of BEST is not merely the responsibility of a single institution but a collective responsibility of Mumbai, the BMC and the state government": Mr. Fadnavis
MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday approved the redevelopment of BEST depots in Mumbai and directed the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking to prepare a comprehensive redevelopment plan, stressing that citizens’ interests, employee welfare and Mumbai’s long-term development must remain at the core of the project. Chairing a high-level meeting at his official residence, ‘Varsha’, Mr. Fadnavis clarified that no BEST-owned land would be sold as part of the redevelopment exercise.
Instead, projects will be executed through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and long-term lease models, while ownership of the land and assets will remain with BEST.
In a separate meeting, the Chief Minister directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to develop parking facilities at octroi check posts on Mumbai’s outskirts for buses arriving from outside the city to help ease traffic congestion.
Mr. Fadnavis held discussions with ministers Ashish Shelar, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Mayor Ritu Tawde, BEST Committee Chairperson Trishna Vishwasrao, BEST General Manager Sonia Sethi and other senior officials.
He said an ambitious plan was being prepared for the comprehensive revival of BEST. The proposal includes depot redevelopment, employee housing, creation of public amenities and measures to ensure the undertaking’s long-term financial sustainability.
He directed all concerned agencies to work in coordination, maintain transparency and submit a redevelopment blueprint to the state government.
“The operation of BEST is not merely the responsibility of a single institution but a collective responsibility of Mumbai, the BMC and the state government. Continuous dialogue among all stakeholders is essential for shaping BEST’s future,” Mr. Fadnavis said.
The proposed redevelopment of BEST depot premises would be carried out in two phases and plans would also be made to gradually increase the capacity of the bus fleet.
Reiterating that BEST land would not be sold, Mr. Fadnavis said redevelopment would be undertaken through the PPP model with financial partners, while ownership of the land and assets would remain with the undertaking. The projects will be implemented through long-term leases.
The Chief Minister said the redevelopment of depots would go beyond commercial use and include museums, sports facilities, cultural spaces and other social infrastructure. “Every project should contribute to the city’s social and cultural life,” he said.
Mr. Fadnavis also directed BEST to explore setting up dedicated cinemas with a seating capacity of 300–400 for Marathi films at selected depots. Such theatres would provide screening space for Marathi films at concessional rates. In addition, modern residential complexes would be developed for BEST employees to improve their quality of life, he said.
At the separate meeting on traffic management, Mr. Fadnavis directed BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide to develop parking facilities at octroi check posts at Dahisar, Mankhurd, Anand Nagar in Mulund, LBS Road and Airoli Naka. “If bus parking and passenger boarding and alighting facilities are created at these check posts, private buses will not need to enter the city. This will help reduce traffic congestion within Mumbai,” he said.
