Best General Manager Anil Diggikar informed that a five-member committee has been formed under the leadership of Chief General Manager (Traffic) to investigate the accident that took place in Kurla on Monday in which seven people were killed and 42 injured.
Additionally, following a series of fatal accidents involving buses of wet fare contractors, BEST announced that the same committee will also be tasked with reviewing and overhauling the driver training protocols followed by its private bus operators. Diggikar said the newly formed committee will focus on evaluating the current training practices for drivers hired by wet lease contractors, especially in the light of recent accidents that have raised public concern.
We have now formed a five-member committee to assess the type of training given to drivers by wet lease contractors. The committee will also review the duration and adequacy of training. Based on the findings, we will develop a revised training model to ensure all drivers receive comprehensive training focused on road safety, public safety, and electric vehicle (EV) operations,” he said.
After the tragic accident in Kurla where the driver of the Olectra bus lost control of the vehicle, the experience and competence of the driver has been questioned.
Diggikar clarified that the driver Sanjay More had a valid license and had worked as a driver for many years with Hansa Transport and other wet lease contractors. “Prior to joining Olectra, More worked as a driver for Hansa and MP Transport for four years. We are also investigating what caused the accident. Was there a mechanical fault with the vehicle, or did the driver simply lose control? These questions are part of our ongoing investigation. ,” said Diggikar.
A recent spate of accidents has raised concerns about the safety standards maintained by wet-lease operators, particularly with regard to driver training. The wet lease contractors, who operate the buses under contract with BEST, are responsible for hiring and training the drivers. Critics point out that, despite frequent accidents, there is little monitoring of the quality of training these drivers receive. The newly formed committee will now examine these training exercises in detail.
“We need to ensure that all drivers are equipped to face the challenges of driving in a busy city like Mumbai, especially with the growing use of electric buses,” Diggikar said.