000-tobecategorised

Amchi Mumbai Amchi BEST has the following demands
1. BMC must run BEST as part of the BMC Budget
2. Restore a fully BEST-owned fleet
3. Resume all discontinued routes.
4. Double the fleet to 6,000 buses for today’s Mumbai.
5. Give BEST buses priority lanes on arterial [or: main] roads
6. Stop privatization of BEST depots

We are demanding that the BEST revert to a publicly owned and operated fleet.

- JD on WA: I agree with all the demands.. But then at least someone should expose the fact that there is a way of wet leasing, while still maintaining standards and working conditions. Chahal is getting away by saying that they cannot dictate terms of hire and quality and working conditions of drivers..
- Hussein in WA The main argument for wet-leasing, if at all, is that the operations will cost less than a publicly operated fleet. The BMC initially introduced wet-leasing as a way of cutting down BEST's 'losses'. If such cost-savings can be done, wet-leasing might perhaps be a good thing. The problem is that the costs are reduced by (a) paying workers less and making them work more as compared to the regular BEST staff, and (b) cutting corners on maintainence and service quality. The first hurts the workers, the second hurts commuters.
So far there is no evidence that wet-leasing is cheaper to operate (with equal pay and equivalent or better services) than the BEST's own operations. In fact, the BEST and BMC have stopped talking about 'losses' entirely. So far, there is no proof that wet-leasing can work better.
In any case, even the 'reducing losses' argument is hollow at best. The BMC will spend 16,000 crore on the South Coastal Road, and is now planning to spend another 16,000 crore on the North Coastal Road. That is 32,000 crores for car-owners. The BEST's deficit is at 4,000 crores approximately. The BMC can simply write off this deficit, and make BEST operations a part of its yearly municipal budget.
For the Government and the BMC, wet-leasing policy is an ideological choice, not a practical one.
- Agreed.. but we also need to convince the average mumbaikar.. that the privatisation model compromises safety as well as quality of service.. and that wetleasing is not economic magic!!
- An alternative system could be what George Fernandes did to the Bombay Taxi Union. Organised the direct financing of Taxi's to the driver-owner. BEST could wet lease from individual drivers or two driver coops. who buy buses using bank loans and Union arrangements with Bus manufacturers. The Unions could also run mechanic/maintenance cooperative workshops through out the city.

Comments by Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide are intended to tarnish Bapu’s image, says Tushar Gandhi https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/comments-by-hindutva-leader-sambhaji-bhide-are-intended-to-tarnish-bapus-image-says-tushar-gandhi/article67158303.ece  Sonam Saigal August 05, 2023
Last week, during his tour of Vidarbha, Mr. Bhide made controversial remarks against Gandhi at a public gathering in Amravati

Sambhaji Bhide Row: FIR Filed Against Hindutva Leader For Comments Against Gautam Buddha, Phule, Periyar Naicker https://www.freepressjournal.in/topnews/sambhaji-bhide-row-fir-filed-against-hindutva-leader-for-comments-against-gautam-buddha-phule-periyar-naicker  PTI August 07, 2023,
The FIR filed in Navi Mumbai alleged Bhide of making derogatory comments on Gautam Buddha and social reformers Jyotiba Phule and

The Most Damaging Charge Against CM Biren Singh: Protecting Drug Lords Connected To BJP & His Wife https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0rZN3dQ51w The Wire Aug 7, 2023 A former Additional Superintendent of Police in the Manipur police department has levelled the most damaging charge against Chief Minister Biren Singh – that he is not fighting the illegal drug trade and illegal poppy cultivation but “He is part of it. He is part of the drug cartel. He is protecting them. He is their patron.” Thounaojam Brinda has recounted in detail a story she had earlier told to Tamal Saha of News The Truth about how in June 2018 the Chief Minister made repeated attempts, including “illegal” ones, to get her to release a drug lord she had caught in possession of lakhs worth of drugs.