In the aftermath of a tragic accident in Kurla West on Monday night, which claimed six lives and injured 43 people, the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) has made adjustments to several bus routes to avoid further incidents and potential public backlash. This precautionary measure aims to protect both the buses and their staff from potential harm in the wake of the tragedy.
The incident took place when bus driver Sanjay More, aged 45, reportedly lost control of the vehicle. To safeguard staff and assets, BEST decided to suspend all bus services heading to Kurla railway station. Seven bus routes were redirected to begin from Kurla Depot, while three others, running from Santacruz station to Kurla, were shortened and rerouted through Tilak Nagar.
Affected routes include 37, 320, 319, 325, 330, 365, and 446, which now end at Kurla Depot rather than continuing to the railway station. Routes 311, 313, and 318, typically running between Santacruz and Kurla stations via Mumbai University, Kalina, and Vakola, have been modified to loop through Tilak Nagar before returning to Santacruz. Additionally, Route 310, which connects Bandra to Kurla station via BKC, has also been diverted.
The tragic incident occurred at around 9:45 PM on Monday when an air-conditioned single-decker e-bus (MH-01-EM-8228), manufactured by Olectra, collided with several vehicles on SG Barve Marg. The bus, part of BEST’s wet lease fleet, was operated by Sanjay More, a driver employed by an agency that supplies personnel to BEST. Initial reports indicate that there were no signs of driver intoxication at the time of the crash.
BEST spokesperson Sudas Sawant explained, “The bus was traveling from Kurla Railway Station West to Sakinaka when the driver lost control. The vehicle’s speed suddenly increased, resulting in a horrific collision with about 20-25 vehicles, including auto-rickshaws, motorcycles, a police jeep, and taxis.”
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) confirmed the tragic loss of six lives and reported that 48 others were injured. The injured were initially taken to Kurla Bhabha Hospital before being transferred to Sion Hospital and other private medical centers for continued care.
The Olectra bus involved in the accident is part of a fleet of 183 such vehicles within BEST’s 1,900-vehicle wet lease program, which operates as part of a total fleet of 2,913 buses. Details of the incident were withheld by BEST until after 2 AM, which led to growing concern and confusion in the community.
In response to the incident, BEST union leader Shashank Sharad Rao criticized the wet lease system, claiming that the drivers are inadequately compensated under these contracts. “We have been advocating for BEST to run its own fleet for years, as it would improve service quality and the working conditions for drivers,” Rao commented.
