BEST GM proposes introduction of new posts of depot managers

Mumbai, May 29 (UNI) Each of the 25 BEST bus depots in the city may have a depot manager if the proposal to appoint one is cleared in the next BEST Committee meeting.

BEST General Manager Uttam Khobragade had proposed the introduction of a new post called Depot Managers in 25 BEST depots across the city in the previous BEST Committee meeting.

Khobragade is of the view that there have been instances when BEST buses have been driven from one end of a city to the other without many passengers that has led to a waste of manpower and fuel. Khobragade said, ''There should be accountability in each and every department and we should try and reduce criminal loss of fuel and manpower.'' BJP councillor and BEST committee member Pravin Chheda opposed the idea of a depot manager and said that this is a part of an agreement between the BEST committee and Tata Consultancy. He further added that if depot managers are implemented then it should be in a phased manner and should be started one at a time.

Another member Sunil Ganacharya of the Shiv Sena said, ''The post of a depot manager has been created just because TCS has asked for it and there is no use of such a post.'' Khobragade added that the post of a depot manager will be beneficial for the undertaking as there will be an accountability and TCS has nothing to do with it and it is his brain child and he had already implemented the same in State Tranport.

The general manager said he did not understand the meaning of consultants and he never knew what work they do.

Khobragade said the depot managers will not have the authority to decide on new routes or to cancel routes. Moreover, there will be a monthly meeting between the depot managers and the GM, to whom they will report.

Khobragade added that a depot manager will be the senior-most man in the depot and he had told his staff to appoint one in the depots six months back, but there has been no implementation of it.

Congress councillor and BEST Committee member Ravi Raja said, ''Each and every proposal should be cleared in the committee meeting and the administration should not keep the members in the dark about anything and the appointment of depot managers is not different.'' BEST Committee Chairman S Potnis said, ''The proposal to appoint depot managers will be taken in the next meeting after a thorough discussion between the members after which a decision will be taken.'' UNI