Mumbai: BEST is all set to hand over its two bus depots — Dharavi and Kalakilla — for the Dharavi redevelopment project, with two makeshift depots to accommodate 479 buses in central Mumbai coming up soon, a senior official said on Tuesday.The BEST administration has also sought the committee’s approval to hand over the two depots to private contractor Navbharat Megha Developers Pvt Ltd as part of the Dharavi redevelopment project, with members deciding to first deliberate on the proposal before granting final clearance.Spread across nearly 12 acres, the Dharavi and Kalakilla depots form a key transport asset in central Mumbai. According to officials, the developer presented its detailed plan to BEST in April this year. To ensure that bus operations are not disrupted during construction, the contractor has proposed setting up makeshift depots at two separate locations. These temporary facilities will have the capacity to accommodate 470 buses and will include all required operational amenities, allowing public bus services to continue without interruption.Said BEST panel member (Sena UBT) Nitin Nandgaonkar: “We will study the proposal. If we feel that this is not a feasible project as two depots will be impacted and it is the prime BEST plot, we will strongly oppose.”Under the redevelopment proposal, one depot will be rebuilt on 8,601 square metres, with parking provision for 200 to 275 buses. After the main structure is completed, additional floors will be constructed to house BEST offices and amenities, while some upper floors will be leased for commercial use. The second depot, planned on 10,544 square metres, will similarly provide parking for 200 to 275 buses on the ground floor, with BEST offices and staff facilities on the upper levels.Built in 1980, the Dharavi bus depot is one of BEST’s older facilities, while the adjacent smaller depot at Kalakilla was inaugurated in January 2016. The larger premises include transport division offices, a power supply division office, around 60 staff quarters, and amenities for drivers and conductors.Sources said the existing staff quarters are old and in dilapidated condition, making redevelopment necessary. The developer has assured BEST that the project will deliver modern depots with larger office spaces, improved amenities, upgraded staff housing and other benefits for the land-owning civic undertaking.Officials said the BEST power supply division’s small portion within the depot premises will remain protected, and the electricity substation there will continue to function as it supplies power to the surrounding Dharavi area. The two redeveloped depots are expected to be completed within seven years, with maintenance to be handled by the contractor for five years thereafter.
