Heavy rain costs BEST and MSRTC over Rs 4 crore

Mumbai: The relentless rain that battered the city and several parts of the state over the past few days ha not only disrupted daily life but also dealt a significant financial blow to public transport operators.

The BEST undertaking and the MSRTC together have reported losses exceeding Rs 4 crore due to rain-related disruptions.According to BEST officials, the undertaking incurred losses of around Rs 2 crore over three days as heavy downpour, poor visibility, waterlogging and tree falls severely affected bus operations across the city. A total of 327 bus routes were impacted between July 4 and July 6, forcing diversions and hampering schedules.On July 4, as many as 127 routes were affected, while 104 routes faced disruptions on July 5. Another 96 routes were impacted on July 6. Waterlogged roads and uprooted trees prompted traffic diversions, resulting in delays and operational challenges for the city’s bus network.The impact was equally severe on MSRTC, which reported losses of approximately Rs 2.3 crore in just two days. The state-run transporter had to cancel 7,820 bus trips due to adverse weather conditions, road blockages and safety concerns. The cancellations affected thousands of passengers travelling across Maharashtra and led to substantial revenue losses for the corporation.

Transport officials said persistent rainfall and infrastructure-related disruptions have placed immense pressure on public transport services, highlighting the challenges of maintaining uninterrupted operations during the monsoon season. If heavy rainfall continues, transport agencies fear further operational disruptions and financial setbacks in the coming days.