Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses are the only means of transport functional in Mumbai. The bus service is being used to ferry employees engaged in essential services that are on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19. The BEST employees have been putting themselves at risk of contracting the infection while showing up for duty every day. However, it has been learned that the BEST has been unable to pay the employees the salary for the month of April.
The civic body has allocated funds of ₹1,500 crores to assist BEST Corporation. Shiv Sena, which is the ruling party in BMC, said that ₹625 crores have already been given to BEST out the allocated ₹1,500-crore funds. Last year, the BMC has provided BEST with a financial aid of ₹2,126.31 crores, and this year, a reserve of ₹1,500 crores had been made.
The plan is to provide the corporation with ₹125 crores every month but amid the financial crunch caused due to COVID-19 pandemic, the BEST Corporation had sked BMC to give them ₹150 crores this year. But since the Standing Committee meeting has been postponed due to the pandemic, BMC could only allocate the pre-decided ₹125 crores.
Mumbai's BEST bus services have been beneficial during the coronavirus outbreak. It has helped doctors, nurses, government officers, and other essential workers reach their workplaces on time. Every day, amidst the lockdown, BEST has been running 1,300 buses in Mumbai thereby playing an important role in the crisis.
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