The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has allocated Rs 10 billion for the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking in its 2025-26 budget. This move aims to strengthen Mumbai’s public transport system amid BEST’s ongoing financial challenges. Since 2012-13, BMC has provided a total of Rs 113 billion to support the undertaking. Funding for Infrastructure and Operations The Rs 10 billion grant will be used for infrastructure development, acquisition of capital equipment, loan repayments, and procurement of buses on a wet lease basis. Additionally, the funds will cover salary revisions, pension dues, an Intelligent Traffic Management System project, and annual Diwali bonuses for employees. Push for Electric Mobility As part of a state-backed initiative to introduce 2,000 electric buses in Mumbai, BMC will contribute Rs 1.3 billion, covering five per cent of the project cost. The 15th Finance Commission has also sanctioned Rs 9.92 billion for electric bus purchases. Of this, Rs 4.93 billion has already been disbursed, while the remaining Rs 4.98 billion will be transferred once the full amount is received. Free Travel for Civic School Students In an effort to support education and ease commuting costs, the budget includes provisions for free travel for students of BMC-run schools. Students from classes 1 to 10, dressed in school uniforms, can travel free on BEST buses from their homes to school. To facilitate this scheme, ‘Chalo cards’ have been distributed to 19,723 students, including 14,900 primary school students and 4,823 secondary school students. The budget has set aside Rs 60 million for primary school students and Rs 27 million for secondary school students under this initiative. With these financial commitments, the BMC aims to modernise Mumbai’s public transport network while making daily commutes more affordable and sustainable.