BEST finances in a mess: Will recover ‘advance festival payment’ to staff, warns BMC

In October, just before Diwali, BEST employees had threatened to go on an indefinite strike if they were not paid Diwali bonus. To end the crisis, the BMC had offered to pay Diwali bonus to the employees.

“We had released ‘advance payment’ to the BEST employees as a loan, instead of a Diwali bonus,” said a senior official.

While BEST is facing a financial crisis and the BMC cannot legally release a bonus to BEST employees, the civic body released the sum as an advance festival payment. “We had released the sum as advance payment. However, once the situation improves, the amount will be considered a Diwali bonus and not a loan. But if they (BEST) fail to improve the situation, we will have to recover the sum,” said a senior BMC official.

Mehta said: “BEST has to take a decision soon. We are very clear about what we are to do. We have pointed out the flaws and irregularities. It is for them to act now and as soon as possible.”

A BEST official said: “We have already assured our employees that the situation will improve and the amount will not be recovered from the salaries. We have already started discussions and we are working on improvements, as suggested by the BMC.”

BEST buses form the city’s second largest public transport system. Nearly 30 lakh people travel by the buses every day. But the BEST’s transport division bears a monthly loss of Rs 80 crore to Rs 90 crore and has a total debt of Rs 2100 crore.