BEST Bus Division's Income Rises by ₹497 Crore in 2025-26, Deficit Narrows

Mumbai's BEST Bus Division reported a significant financial turnaround in 2025-26, with total income climbing by nearly ₹497 crore to ₹2,136.46 crore against ₹1,640.21 crore in the previous year. The division's deficit narrowed by ₹540.46 crore, marking improvement despite ongoing financial pressures.

The revenue growth was fuelled by higher earnings from wet-lease bus operations, which added ₹235.30 crore, alongside increased BMC grants rising from ₹794.52 crore to ₹1,000 crore. A May 2025 fare revision—doubling non-AC fares from ₹5 to ₹10 and increasing passes proportionally—contributed additional income. However, ticket revenue from BEST's own buses declined by ₹6.31 crore.

Despite improvements, the Bus Division remains a significant financial burden on BEST and has sought an additional ₹350 crore grant from the BMC to sustain operations.