Free BEST rides are coming for disabled in Mumbai, with Rs 7.64 crore fare for BMC

With the BMC’s financial reserves shrinking sharply over the past five years, the civic body has now announced a new free-travel scheme in BEST buses for persons with disabilities. The waiver will cost the BMC Rs 7.64 crore.

The BMC will table a proposal before its standing committee on September 9 to provide the BEST with a grant-in-aid of Rs 7.64 crore** to offer free travel on non-AC buses to persons with 40 per cent or more disability, as prescribed under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

The scheme will be the first BEST concession covering people across disability categories. At present, free BEST travel is available only to visually impaired passengers. The financial implications come against the backdrop of a significant decline in the BMC’s fixed deposits.

According to civic data, the BMC’s overall fixed deposits fell from Rs 91,690 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 81,449 crore in 2024-25, a decline of more than Rs 10,000 crore. The new concession will cover only non-AC BEST buses, where the minimum fare is currently Rs 10.

AC buses, which have a minimum fare of Rs 12, are excluded. BEST currently operates 2,829 buses, including 620 non-AC buses. The potential beneficiary pool is substantial, with the 2011 Census recording around 3.4 lakh persons with disabilities in Mumbai.

The proposal also comes as BEST continues to depend heavily on financial support from the civic body. The BMC has earmarked Rs 1,000 crore annually for BEST in 2025-26 and 2026-27, up from Rs 850 crore in 2024-25. According to the proposal, the Rs 7.64-crore grant will be drawn from the BMC’s gender budget, which includes allocations for welfare measures.

The civic budget had earmarked Rs 5 crore for concessions for persons with disabilities in 2026-27. Since the estimated requirement is around Rs 7.65 crore, the additional Rs 2.65 crore will be met through an internal transfer of funds.

The allocation is also significantly higher than the Rs 4.38 crore grant provided last year for free travel for visually impaired passengers—an increase of nearly 74 per cent. The BMC has proposed financial safeguards to monitor the expenditure.

BEST will be required to submit quarterly audited bills, verified by its chief auditor, along with Electronic Ticket Issuing Machine reports and travel-card records. The responsibility for verifying disability certificates and ensuring that only eligible beneficiaries receive travel passes will rest entirely with BEST, the proposal states.

The free-travel announcement also comes ahead of the civic elections. The BJP and Shiv Sena-led Mahayuti had promised a 50 per cent fare concession for women commuters, though the proposal did not find a place in the BMC’s 2026-27 budget.

Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.

Expertise & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai. Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in: Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.

City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region. Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis: National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.

State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019. Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.

Experience Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies: Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014). Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.

Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres.

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