BEST to get loans on performance

Performance-based grants will be given to the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST), declared the BMC standing committee chairman Yashodhodar Phanse on Monday . He also promised a loan of Rs 100 crore after the BMC proposed a loan of only Rs 10 crore in its budget.

The BEST had asked the BMC for a loan of Rs 355.36 crore of which 100 crore has been promised as a loan while the biggest slice of the pie, the remaining Rs 255.36 crore, will be released based on undertaking’s performance in providing services to its commuters. BEST general manager Jagdish Patil said, “BMC commissioner has informed me that other than Rs 100 crore, the remaining money will be given to us on the basis of our performance. That is, only if projects and works directly benefit our commuters, both for power and transport, will the rest of the money be made available to us. The Rs 100 crore will be given to us as capital for works related to infrastructure or other core improvement.”

Speaking about the performance based-help Mr Phanse said, “Unless the BEST is proactive and comes forward with projects that will provide immediate relief to the commuters, the money will not be released. For example, if just a plan of depot development is shown to us, nothing except the Rs 100 crore will be given to undertaking for the financial year of 2016-17.”

However, BEST’s committee member Kedar Hombalkar proposed that all work be suspended to protest the meagre loan granted to the undertaking. Other members along with Mr Hombalkar were pacified after Mr Phanse said that the BMC would not let its budget pass without making the provision of the Rs 100 crore. “I assure the BEST and its committee members that the Rs 100 crore loan will be included the final BMC budget as the proposed budget is yet to be passed by the standing committee,” he said.

Officials within the BEST have said that the Rs 100 crore would be a much-needed breather for the undertaking but they added that more money would be required for their works during the rest of the year.