Kurla accident: Breathalyser tests for drivers made mandatory after wet-lease BEST bus drivers caught with liquor on duty, 2 drivers sacked

Anil Diggikar, General Manager of BEST, confirmed the new policy, stating that while breathalyzer tests were previously conducted randomly, they will now be a mandatory part of every driver’s routine. “Drivers will be tested before starting their service and again after completing their shifts at the depot,” Diggikar explained.

The move follows disturbing incidents involving drivers purchasing alcohol during their duties. In one of the cases, a video of a BEST driver buying liquor from a wine shop surfaced. In a separate incident (the video of which went viral), another BEST bus driver was caught red-handed by a police official with a bottle of alcohol on the bus. The driver attempted to deny ownership of the bottle, claiming it belonged to someone else.

Both drivers involved in these incidents have been suspended pending further investigation, said Diggikar.

The introduction of mandatory daily breathalyzer testing is part of a broader effort to restore public trust in the city’s public transportation system. To ensure 100% compliance, BEST has directed all wet lease contractors to implement the new testing procedure immediately. Wet lease contractors have been instructed to make the necessary arrangements to guarantee that every driver, regardless of their employment status, undergoes the tests as required.

A dual training system has been proposed where contractors will train drivers at depots using the latest buses, followed by secondary training conducted by BEST at its Dindoshi training centre.

BEST held a meeting with six contractors on Wednesday to streamline training programmes for drivers. The duration of training will be finalised by next week. To impart thorough training, BEST will procure two electric AC buses with automatic transmission specifically for training purposes.

The driver involved in the Kurla accident, Sanjay More, admitted to police that he lacked sufficient experience with automatic transmission buses, having operated conventional vehicles in the past. This has led to calls for comprehensive training for all drivers, particularly those employed by private contractors.

Ramesh Madavi, BEST’s Chief Manager (Traffic), said, “We have formed a committee to work on corrective and preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future. BEST will issue detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) for drivers employed under the wet-lease model.”

BEST is also examining ways to assess drivers’ skills, health, and mental well-being, factors that could impact their performance.

The wet-lease model has faced criticism from unions and activists, who argue that it compromises safety and oversight. The number of accidents involving wet-lease buses has risen with 247 accidents reported in the past three years. The accidents involving BEST-owned buses have declined, largely due to a shrinking fleet.

Over the past five years, BEST has scrapped 2,160 buses and acquired only 37 new ones. Currently, 1,061 BEST-owned buses operate alongside 2,126 wet-leased buses, a shift unions describe as “privatisation.”

Suhas Samant, leader of the BEST Workers’ Union, expressed concerns about the privatisation trend. “Since privatisation, such accidents have become frequent. Private buses are deployed without proper checks, and their drivers often lack training. Low salaries force them to take additional jobs, leading to fatigue. To ensure safe and reliable service, privatisation must be reconsidered,” he said.

Unions are urging BEST to prioritise rebuilding its fleet and improving working conditions for its employees. They argue that higher salaries and better benefits would attract experienced drivers, reducing the risk of accidents and enhancing passenger safety.