New Bharat TV
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed a financial grant of Rs 1,000 crore for the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (Best) in its budget estimates (BE) for the financial year 2025-26. This allocation comes despite suppressing BMC's own infrastructure projects and financial commitments for other necessary purposes.
Since 2012-13, BMC has increased a total financial assistance of Rs 11,304.59 crore by January 2025. The provision of Rs 1,000 crore is aimed at addressing various operations and capital expenditure, including infrastructure development, capital equipment procurement, loan repayment, acquisition of new buses. Through a weight lease model, employee payment amendment, day-to-day operational cost, intelligent transport management system (ITMS) project, Diwali bonus, pensioners gratuity and electricity outstanding.
Additionally, the grant includes Rs 128.65 crore as a 5% stake of BMC for the purchase and deployment of 2,000 electric buses for Mumbai as per the instructions of the State Government of Maharashtra.
Electrical dynamics
In a significant push towards permanent urban transport, the 15th Finance Commission has approved Rs 992 crore for the purchase of electric buses. Of this, Rs 493.38 crore has already been distributed in the best form, while the remaining Rs 498.62 crore will be transferred from the Finance Commission. This initiative aligns Mumbai's long -term target of infection in an environmentally friendly public transport system.
Mumbai's public transport backbone has been struggling with financial challenges in the best, recent years. Despite serving around 35 lakh passengers daily, the best fleet is decreasing, the number of buses has come down to 3,000. In particular, about two-thirds of these buses operate on wet lease agreements.
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