MUMBAI, June 6 -- Amid persistent opposition allegations and public concerns that valuable BEST land could be sold for redevelopment projects, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday issued his first clear assurance that no BEST bus depot land would be sold. The clarification comes against the backdrop of the recent decision by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking to hand over the Dharavi and Kalakilla bus depots for the Adani Group-led Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP). Since 2024, when the two depots were identified for transfer to the multi-crore redevelopment project, opposition parties have repeatedly accused the state government of facilitating the sale of prime BEST land. The two depots together comprise around 11.58 acres that will be redeveloped as part of the Dharavi project. Fadnavis made the statement after reviewing a presentation by BEST officials on a comprehensive plan to redevelop and modernise the undertaking's depots on the lines of major global cities. According to the chief minister's office, the redevelopment exercise would focus on improving public transport infrastructure while safeguarding the interests of commuters, employees and the city. During the meeting, BEST officials proposed transforming 22 of the undertaking's 27 depots, spread across nearly 132 acres, into modern multi-purpose transport hubs through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The redevelopment plan draws inspiration from advanced public transport facilities in cities such as Singapore, Paris, Hong Kong and London. Sources said Fadnavis directed BEST authorities to prepare a comprehensive blueprint that would not only modernise depot infrastructure but also place citizens' welfare, employees' interests and Mumbai's long-term development at the centre of the project. The final redevelopment and revival plan will be submitted to the government after detailed assessment. BEST has already prepared a 15-point roadmap for its overall development, which has been submitted to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). A key component of the redevelopment proposal is the creation of modern parking infrastructure. At present, many depot buildings are ageing and lack adequate parking facilities. Officials have proposed underground parking at redeveloped depots to optimise land use and improve operational efficiency. "We have proposed having basement parking in every depot. There is no basement floor arrangement anywhere in the existing depots and most of the buildings in depots are in a dilapidated condition. Therefore, while redeveloping the depots, underground parking can be looked at," said a BEST official. Currently, the Kurla depot has a ground-plus-multi-level parking facility capable of accommodating around 100 to 125 buses....