BEST faces Rs 26 crore loss due to diesel price hike

MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking is looking at a Rs 26 crore per annum loss due to the recent spike in diesel rates. The BEST has 3,367 buses in its fleet, out of which 1,329 buses are being run on diesel. The Congress and Shiv Sena have asked if the administration would seek financial help from the state government to reduce its burden on fuel. Incidentally, the BEST is already facing a loss due to the faulty Trimax machines, which are used for issuing tickets.

BEST chairman Ashish Chemburkar said that if the price of diesel remains at this level, the BEST would face an annual loss of Rs 26 crore due to diesel hike and Rs 13 lakh due to hike in petrol prices. Petrol is currently being sold at Rs 86.23 per litre, while diesel is priced at Rs 73.78 per litre in Mumbai.  Later speaking to The Asian Age, Mr Chemburkar said, “The committee will write to the state government for an exemption in cess on diesel so that the loss will be curtailed.”

The Mumbai Congress general secretary and a committee member, Mr Bhushan Patil raised the issue of petrol and diesel hike in the committee meeting. “As the prices of petrol and diesel are increasing day by day in last two-three months, how much financial burden will increase on the BEST?” Mr Patil asked.

According to the BEST, diesel was purchased at cost of Rs 137, 19,72,244  in 2016-17, while petrol was purchased for Rs 1,43,05,328 in 2016-17. The BEST has 3,367 fleets including 1,329 fleets of diesel, 2002 fleets of CNG and 31 electric.     

Shiv Sena corporator and BEST committee member Anil Kokil raised the issue of the 3,000 litres of petrol which is lying unused at the Dadar workshop after a wall collapsed more than a year ago.  

“As the prices of the fuel are rocketing, why is the administration not bothered about the 3,000 litres of petrol. The administration should look into it,” Mr Kokil said. He also asked if the administration would seek financial help from the state government to reduce its burden on fuel.

Speaking to mediapersons, BEST General Manager Surendra Bagde said, “The prices of fuel are variable. We will look into it.”