Bharat bandh: 175 buses damaged, BEST loses Rs2.5 lakh

While the bandh on Monday forced private vehicles to stay off city roads, miscreants targeted the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses.

According to figures released by the BEST, 175 buses were damaged while seven drivers, two conductors and one inspector were injured. “We have incurred loses of around Rs2.5 lakh,” said AS Tamboli, public relations officer, BEST. 

OP Gupta, general manager, BEST, said the administration will try to recover costs from those responsible for the damages.

The BEST had set up a control room for conductors and drivers to report all untoward incidents. “There was a control room through which we were in touch with our staff. We had told them to take alternate safe routes in case there were any incidents of violence,” said Tamboli.

According to eye-witnesses, buses on several routes were forcibly stopped by political workers. “There were no buses plying in our area in the morning or afternoon. The taxis and autos, too, were off the road. I had little choice but to walk in the heat,” said Kaushal Mistry, 29, an executive, who walked from Link Road to Goregaon station.

There were 31 incidents across the city where the buses were damaged. The incidents took place at Parel, Worli, Kandivli (E), Kala Nagar, Antop Hill, Malwani (Malad), Vakola (Santa Cruz), Kalamboli, Prabhadevi, Jogeshwari, Grant Road, Sewri, Mukti Dham (Goregaon), Sangharsh Nagar (Kurla), Lower Parel, Oshiwara, Mehboob Studio (Bandra), Mira Road and Everhard Nagar (Kurla).