India, June 26 -- The BEST plans to induct 5,000 self-owned buses over the next three years, a move intended to gradually reduce dependence on the wet-lease model and strengthen operational control over the city's bus fleet. The plan was among details shared by the undertaking's general manager Sonia Sethi with the civic Standing Committee on Thursday.

Sethi's presentation, on the undertaking's financial position and roadmap, came after the civic panel cleared a Rs.1,000-crore aid package for the undertaking last week. She also told the committee that Mumbai requires around 10,000 buses, according to central government norms.

Sethi said BEST's cumulative liabilities were Rs.23,296 crore as of March 31, 2026. While the electricity divisi...