The State government’s transport department has asked the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) for a 7,000-square metre plot on lease to set up test tracks, as mandated by the Bombay High Court. The BEST committee discussed the matter on Tuesday and a decision was deferred to the next meeting.
According to the proposal presented to the committee by the BEST administration, the land on offer is located at Shivaji Nagar, near the BEST bus station, and is currently unused. It stated that the undertaking was going to ask ₹5 lakh as rent every month for a period of five years.
However, the transport department has offered to pay monthly rent of ₹2 lakh. Transport Commissioner Shekhar Channe said that they had requested BEST to lease them the land and was hopeful that it does so.
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The committee members were not happy with the fact that the loss-making transport undertaking was proposing to give land at a concessional rate since the rent according to the ready recknor should be over ₹11 lakh per month. “Does BEST have the capacity to give discounts? Ideally we should be calling for a tender but I understand that since it is the government we should give the land. But at least rent it at the ready reckoner rate,” said committee member Anil Kokil.
Concessional rate
A senior BEST official said that they had agreed to a concessional rate since it was the transport department asking and as a public transport undertaking they have a direct relationship with them.
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Chairman of the committee Ashish Chemburkar said that the committee needs to study the proposal carefully before taking a call.
Senior committee member Sunil Ganacharya said that a 10% escalation clause should be added so that the rates reflect inflation each year. Committee members also said that the time period should be reduced to at the most two years after which the undertaking could review and enter into a fresh agreement.
The Bombay High Court had directed the transport department to ensure that all the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) have a 250-metre brake test track for testing of vehicles, which is mandatory to issue fitness certificates. Commercial vehicles, including BEST buses, need to get fitness certificates annually.
At present, none of the four RTOs in the city have the mandated test tracks. The Tardeo RTO has been conducting vehicle fitness tests on its premises, on a testing track of less than 100 metres, while the others have been doing it on service roads.
The transport department has sought land at various places including Aarey in Goregaon and Worli dairy but have had little success. Senior officials from the transport department said that the plot in Shivaji Nagar will provide immediate relief and if they do get the land, it may serve all four RTOs temporarily.