India, June 9 -- In three years, from January 2023 and December 2025, there have been 958 major accidents involving BEST buses, resulting in 77 deaths and 217 injuries, according to data with the BEST. Sources in the undertaking said more than 85% of these accidents involved wet-lease buses, putting the spotlight once again on an operational model that relies heavily on private contractors.

On Monday, BEST committee members, comprising elected representatives, criticised the model, saying the system may need to be reviewed. "I have asked the wet-lease operators to reduce these accidents as people's trust in wet-lease BEST buses is dwindling. If things don't improve, we may have to do away with the wet-lease model," said Trushna Vishwasra...