Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday, 5 June chaired a high-level review meeting in Mumbai and directed authorities to draft a comprehensive revival blueprint for the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking, anchored on depot development, staff housing, public amenities, and long-term financial self-sustainability. The directives mark the most structured policy intervention in BEST's recent history, covering everything from a 22-year economic roadmap to the conversion of defunct octroi plazas into multi-modal transport hubs.

Core Pillars of the Revival Plan

Fadnavis laid down three non-negotiable priorities for the BEST blueprint: the welfare of Mumbai's citizens, the well-being of BEST employees, and the long-term development of the city. He stressed that BEST's revival is not the responsibility of any single agency. 'The operation of BEST is not the responsibility of a single organisation, but a collective responsibility of Mumbai City, the Municipal Corporation, and the state government,' he said, calling for continuous dialogue among all government and non-government stakeholders.

The Chief Minister also mandated absolute transparency across all concerned agencies and ordered that project execution rights be awarded only to institutions with demonstrably high financial and technical capabilities.

PPP Model: No Land Sale, Long-Term Lease

In a significant policy clarification, Fadnavis explicitly ruled out any sale of BEST-owned land. 'Instead, spaces will be developed using a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with financial partners. The ownership of the land and assets will strictly remain with BEST under a long-term lease model,' he stated. Depot modernisation will proceed in two phases, alongside a phased expansion of the bus fleet.

Notably, the monetisation plan goes beyond commercial use. Fadnavis directed that depots integrate museums, sports facilities, cultural centres, and social infrastructure. He also floated the concept of dedicated mini-theatres with a 300 to 400-seat capacity within select depots to screen Marathi cinema at subsidised rates — a move that blends urban infrastructure with cultural outreach.

Employee Housing and the 22-Year Economic Plan

High-quality, modern residential complexes are to be constructed to improve the living standards of BEST employees, the Chief Minister directed. Aligning the exercise with the national vision of 'Viksit Bharat 2047' and 'Viksit Maharashtra', Fadnavis instructed officials to draft a 22-year long-term economic plan for BEST that comprehensively evaluates future bus fleet requirements, manpower needs, revenue generation, and expenditure control.

To prevent bureaucratic delays — a chronic bottleneck in Mumbai's infrastructure projects — he ordered that all project approvals, permits, and administrative planning be completed during the preparatory phase itself.

Multi-Modal Hubs at City Entry Points

Addressing Mumbai's worsening traffic congestion, Fadnavis directed the transformation of erstwhile octroi plazas at the city's entry points into multi-modal transport hubs. The targeted locations are Dahisar, Mankhurd, Anand Nagar (Mulund), LBS Road, and Airoli Naka. These hubs will be equipped with parking lots and passenger boarding and alighting facilities for external private buses.

'By setting up these facilities at the borders, private tourist buses will not need to enter the city, significantly easing Mumbai's traffic congestion,' Fadnavis said. He also directed separate coordinated discussions with the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) to align intercity government bus operations with the new hub model.

What Happens Next

The Chief Minister concluded the meeting by demanding a strict, time-bound programme from all departments to ensure the project moves from blueprint to implementation at maximum speed. With a 22-year financial roadmap, phased depot modernisation, and multi-modal hub development on the agenda, BEST's revival — if executed as directed — could reshape urban mobility and public infrastructure across Mumbai over the next two decades.