The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport undertaking has filed a police complaint after its original bus shelter at Shree Andheri KVO Seva Samaj Chowk on Old Nagardas Road in Andheri East was replaced by a newly rebuilt structure linked to Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel.
The complaint follows questions raised at a BEST committee meeting by Shiv Sena (UBT) member Sachin Patil over whether the replacement shelter was approved by BEST, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and traffic authorities. Members also sought details of the project’s funding, tendering process and permission to use the BEST logo.
The new shelter carries the BEST logo, a list of bus stops and signboards crediting Patel, also known as Kaka, with its construction. A senior BEST official said the undertaking was surprised to find the original shelter missing and sought details of how the new structure had been built.
Patel also raised questions about the legitimacy of the work and asked whether the required permissions had been obtained. The issue has brought public ownership and control of bus shelters into focus, particularly because BEST earns advertising revenue through contracts connected with these structures.
Patel said there was no illegal work and that the project had received proper permissions from BEST and the BMC ward office, along with the necessary no-objection certificates to take over the old bus stop and construct the replacement. He said MLA funds were used to revamp the shelter and that his name appeared on it because the work was financed from his allocation.
He denied that there was a “missing bus stop” and said he would respond to questions from the BEST panel or its chairperson, Trushna Vishwasrao. Vishwasrao, who is also from the Shiv Sena, assured committee members that she would obtain details before the next meeting.
BEST General Manager Sonia Sethi directed officials to verify whether funds from an MLA, MP or other public sources had been used for the work. The undertaking is also examining the permissions and authorisations connected with the shelter and its branding.
The dispute has expanded beyond the Andheri structure because any unauthorised rebuilding or modification of bus shelters could affect the way public transport assets are managed across the city. Patil said such changes could establish a precedent, while Sena (UBT) member Nitin Nandgaonkar demanded stringent action if an unauthorised takeover was established.
Vishwasrao has ordered inspections of other bus stops modified by political party leaders. BEST’s next committee meeting is expected to consider the details collected on the Andheri shelter, including the fate of the original structure, the approvals granted and the use of public funds.
