DNA Edit: Saving a lifeline – Merging BMC, BEST budgets makes logical sense

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s decision to merge BEST and civic budgets and offering a grant of Rs 100 crore per month till it happens is welcome. The new civic chief Pravin Pardeshi deserves kudos for understanding that BEST is the lifeline of Mumbai city (along with its suburban railway) and cannot be allowed to die a slow death. There has been a huge debate over BEST’s recurring losses over the last few years and the reasons can be argued endlessly. The fact, however, remains that public transport the world over remains loss-making and it is the government that must bear the burden to ensure such systems are not only supported but also actively encouraged. 

BEST making losses is not a unique example of a public transport system not making money. Transporting millions charging only affordable fare is not really a profit-making business. It is more of a public service and the state is bound to lose money. One may argue in favour of running the system in a more efficient manner and look for innovative ways of earning revenue other than ticket prices. Ahmedabad is touted as the city that made Bus Rapid Transit System viable. There are buses running every five minutes, but even there only the air-conditioned buses are running full, that too during summer. 

It is the other benefits of public transport that are often not tangible in terms of money, which the powers that be must bear in mind; for instance, reducing pollution. It is well-documented how running an efficient Metro brought down pollution levels in Delhi initially. We have seen how Andheri-Kurla road was freed of chock-a-block traffic once the Versova-Ghatkopar Metro line became operational. Instead of wasting money in funding and reviving ailing airlines — both government and private, it is the public transport that needs an infusion of money and Pardeshi must be complimented for taking the bold step.