Mumbai: Amid mounting concern over a series of fatal BEST bus accidents, BEST committee chairperson Trushna Vishwasrao has widened the spotlight beyond private wet-lease operators, holding sections of the undertaking’s own administration ‘also responsible’ for lapses in safety oversight, vehicle maintenance and driver monitoring.At a BEST committee meeting this week, Vishwasrao said responsibility for recent crashes could not be placed solely on contractors operating wet-lease buses. She alleged that officials in the transport and engineering departments had failed to adequately monitor periodic maintenance, driver training and compliance checks.In a stern directive issued on Tuesday, Vishwasrao asked senior officials to step out of their ‘AC cabins’ in offices and conduct on-ground inspections at bus depots, visit accident sites and interact directly with depot and engineering staff to understand operational shortcomings and prevent future mishaps. The impact was visible from Wednesday, with few senior officials fanning out across depots.Vishwasrao said she has personally visited hospitals to meet injured passengers and the families of those killed in recent crashes. She added that contractors concerned had been asked to provide compensation to victims, while BEST would bear medical expenses.Expressing strong reservations about the wet-lease model, Vishwasrao said she had “lost faith” in the system and favoured a return to a fleet largely operated by BEST’s own buses and drivers.“BEST’s full-time drivers rarely figured in major crashes in the past. Last year there were 15 accidents and 10 so far this year, with a majority involving wet-lease buses,” she said.She revealed that, at her insistence, the administration recently introduced a mandatory four-week training programme for drivers. A joint meeting of BEST management, wet-lease contractors, drivers and conductors is also planned to address grievances regarding pay scales, facilities and working conditions, which contractual staff claim are inferior to those of permanent employees.A crucial meeting involving BEST general manager Sonia Sethi, Vishwasrao and wet-lease contractors has been scheduled for Friday to review safety standards and accountability mechanisms.The chairperson also welcomed deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde’s decision to procure 5,000 BEST-owned buses, saying the move could reduce dependence on private operators.However, she stressed that securing adequate funding remains a challenge. A meeting with the chief minister and deputy chief minister is expected on Friday to discuss financing options. Sethi said funding could come either from the state government or from BEST’s own resources.