BEST's debt can be cleared within 2 years: Khobragade

Mumbai, July 11 (UNI) The debt of the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST), which is around Rs 700 crore, can be cleared in two years time if the undertaking follows some revenue generation models, according to BEST general manager Uttam Khobragade.

While speaking to the mediapersons, Mr Khobragade said the transport division is running into losses, and it has to be run from the revenue generated by the electric division of BEST.

''The salary structure of the BEST drivers and conductors are one of the highest in the country and more than 85 per cent of the revenue generated by BEST is used for paying salary to the staff,'' he said.

''No organisation can sustain with a structure like this,'' he added Mr Khobragade said that the undertaking has decided to install CCTV's and LCD screens in the buses, which will record the actions of the passengers and the screen will be used for advertising and display.

''We will install CCTV's and LCD screens in all the buses in six months time,'' Mr Khobragade said.

To increase revenue of the undertaking, the administration has decided to auction the scrap generated by the old buses and to purchase diesel from the market at a low cost.

According to Mr Khobragade, the undertaking will earn around Rs 25 crore per year from these schemes.

He also said that the bus stops should be developed and given to the developer for a ten-year period.

''If the schemes are implemented properly, the undertaking will earn around Rs 100 crore a year,'' he added.

Defending the undertaking's decision to sell BEST-owned land, Mr Khobragade said, ''I am the first government servant who has started the trend of asking for tenders and auctioning the plots, as a result, despite the highest tender for Oshiwara plot being Rs 115 crore, the undertaking got Rs 224 crore for the same.'' Likewise, the sale of Mahim, Kurla and Dahisar depots have brought revenue to the undertaking to the tune of Rs 400-500 crore, he said.

UNI