The issue was flagged by Shiv Sena (UBT) and BEST Committee member Nitin Nandgaonkar, who alleged that some defective buses were being shown as repaired and redeployed without proper rectification

Mumbai: Ninety-four defective wet lease buses that had remained off the roads for nearly three months due to pending repairs have now been repaired and returned to service, following a major safety review undertaken by BEST after the April bus crash.The issue was flagged by Shiv Sena (UBT) and BEST Committee member Nitin Nandgaonkar, who alleged that some defective buses were being shown as repaired and redeployed without proper rectification. In representations to the BEST administration, he submitted documentary evidence and detailed defect charts involving buses operated by two private contractors.Following the April crash, BEST’s engineering department carried out a comprehensive inspection of its wet lease fleet and found 868 buses, nearly one-third of the contract fleet, requiring repairs. According to a BEST reply to Nandgaonkar, 774 buses were repaired, while 94 remained pending between April and June. BEST has now confirmed that all 94 buses have been repaired and are back in operation.Nandgaonkar highlighted serious defects including steering lock issues, brake-related faults, worn brake liners, poor vehicle condition, inadequate maintenance and repeated breakdowns. He alleged that in some cases engineers had identified defects and sought repairs, but vehicles were later marked as “repaired” and returned to service without proper rectification. He also claimed some secondary inspections were either inadequate or not attended.BEST officials, however, maintained that commuter safety remains paramount. They said wet lease buses undergo regular depot inspections, surprise checks and technical audits covering steering, braking, tyres, suspension, structural integrity and electrical systems. Any bus found with safety-critical defects is withdrawn from service, sent to the operator for repairs and subjected to a second verification before being reinducted.Officials said buses are inspected at least twice a month by BEST engineers and contractors face penalties if repair instructions are not properly followed. Around 5% of the fleet remains at depots for ongoing maintenance at any given time.“Though these buses are operated by contractors, they carry the BEST logo and responsibility for commuter safety rests with the administration,” an official said, adding that no bus with steering or brake-related defects is permitted on the roads until certified fit by engineers.