Mumbai bus crash: Politicians demand probe and action against driver, union calls for scrapping wet lease

The calamity of BEST’s wet lease bus has become the subject of public indignation with citizens calling for justice and explanation.

According to reports, the bus driver Sanjay More ( 54) lost control of the vehicle after he tried to apply the accelerator instead of the brakes out of fear.

"The driver’s been working for a number of wet lease operators for four years. "He joined Evi Trans on November 26, 2024," a spokesperson said, noting that he was driving other buses before that date.

Focus on the Wet Lease Concept

The wet lease system Mumbai, in which private companies provide BEST with buses and driving crews, has been a subject of debate. Despite BEST bus crash that the model supports both cost management and fleet expansion, complaints about the training and behavior of driver-subcontracted drivers have been mounting. The government is ready to take action against bus driver.

Comparisons with Delhi’s ‘Blue Line’

The incident has evoked comparisons with Delhi’s ‘Blue Line’ buses, notorious for reckless driving and poor Mumbai bus safety records. Mumbaikars are now wondering if this use of private contractors has compromised the safety standards that have always been a feature of BEST services. Asked about Delhi’s ‘Blue Line’ bus system, Suleman Khan, a 58-year-old from Kurla said it is an "open door" for BEST, BMC and the state government.

The Numbers Behind the Model

Currently, BEST operates approximately 3,000 buses of which almost 2,000 are supplied via the Wet lease program. This over-reliance on private contractors is deeply unwarranted in terms of oversight and responsibility. Are these private owners skirting around rules so that they can maximize profits?