In a decisive move to enhance passenger safety, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has rolled out a stringent set of new directives for its drivers. This action comes directly in response to the tragic bus accident in Bhandup, which resulted in four fatalities and left ten individuals injured.
Core Components of the New Safety Directives
The cornerstone of the new protocol is mandatory refresher and skill upgradation training for all electric bus drivers. This requirement applies uniformly to both BEST's permanent on-roll drivers and those employed through wet-lease agreements. Depot managers have been explicitly instructed to ensure complete participation in these programmes.
The training curriculum is comprehensive, focusing on critical areas such as defensive driving techniques, the safe handling of electric buses, understanding braking behaviour, strict speed regulation, and overarching road safety practices. The initiative aims to standardise and elevate the operational competence of every driver behind the wheel of a BEST bus.
Scrutiny of Driver Records and Mobile Training
Parallel to the training mandate, BEST will undertake a comprehensive review of driver service records and deployment controls. As part of this audit, drivers with a history of prior violations, repeated defaults, or previous suspensions will be immediately withdrawn from active driving duty. They will only be reinstated after a thorough review clears them for service.
To ensure these safety practices are disseminated uniformly across Mumbai's vast network, BEST will deploy a Mobile Driver Training Vehicle. This specialised unit will visit all 27 BEST depots to provide on-site sensitisation and training to drivers. Furthermore, as an interim sensitisation measure, drivers involved in accidents may be temporarily assigned to alternative duties, without prejudice to any formal disciplinary process.
A Response to Recurring Incidents
General Manager of BEST, Sonia Sethi, emphasised the urgency of the measures, stating on January 1, 2026, that passenger safety is the organisation's foremost responsibility. She directed that the directives be implemented immediately to ensure all drivers are adequately trained, monitored, and sensitised.
The Bhandup accident occurred nearly a year after the severe Kurla bus crash in December 2024. That earlier incident had prompted the introduction of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) focused on enhancing driver training, enforcing speed limits, implementing routine vehicle checks, and monitoring driver rest periods. The Kurla SOPs primarily targeted procedural training for wet-lease drivers, involving 15 days of on-wheel training and six days of classroom sessions.
While those measures established a foundational framework, the recurrence of the Bhandup tragedy underscored the need for more robust enforcement and practical, hands-on safety measures. The new directives represent an expansion and intensification of BEST's ongoing efforts to prevent such accidents and safeguard the lives of Mumbai's commuters.
