34% of BEST wet-lease buses had brake and steering defects

BEST's internal inspection found 34% of 2,553 wet-lease buses had brake and steering defects.

Of the 868 buses with critical defects, 774 were repaired and returned to service, while 94 repairs remain pending after three months.

BEST Committee member Nitin Nandgaonkar raised concerns in April about recurring faults, prompting the inspection.

Nandgaonkar questioned whether repaired buses were involved in recent accidents and cited potential overlooked issues like clutch and air pressure faults.

BEST instructed all wet-lease operators to prioritize timely repairs, but scrutiny over passenger safety and maintenance effectiveness continues.