Mumbai: Videos showing drivers of wet-leased buses in the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking’s fleet allegedly purchasing or consuming alcohol have gone viral on social media. The videos emerged after the tragic BEST bus crash on December 9 in Kurla, Mumbai, which resulted in seven deaths and 42 injuries.
In one of the video clip, a driver is seen sitting at the wheel while being questioned by a security officer.
“The driver was immediately sacked. We have also received three other videos in which drivers are seen stopping their buses by the road, buying alcohol, and coming back to their seats,” (sic.) the official said, as quoted by news agency PTI.
In a press conference, BEST Kamgar Sena president Suhas Samant stated that these videos are damaging the reputation of the transporter and its employees.
“Unlike wet lease bus drivers, BEST employees are bound by standing orders and service regulations. Hence, they won’t dare to stop buses anywhere on the road and get down to buy alcohol,” Samant claimed, quoting PTI.
General Manager Anilkumar Diggikar stated that a meeting was held with the operators of wet-lease buses, during which it was decided to make breathalyzers mandatory, along with other measures, to prevent accidents.
The Kurla bus crash, took place around 9:50 PM on Monday opposite Anjuman-e-Islam School on S.G. Barve Marg in Kurla, when an electric BEST bus operating on Route Number 332, between Kurla and Andheri stations, veered onto the footpath, collided with several vehicles, and ran over pedestrians.
