Olectra Bus Accidents Rock Mumbai, Raising Safety Concerns

The year 2024 has been marked by a series of Olectra bus accidents in Mumbai, raising serious concerns about their safety and reliability. Remarkably, Olectra vehicles have been involved in 10 out of the 12 fatal accidents involving wet-leased electric buses in BEST’s fleet this year.

Mumbai’s public transport safety is under scrutiny after a series of fatal accidents involving Olectra electric buses in the city’s BEST fleet. Especially after the recent Kurla bus accident, public outrage is high and both Olectra and BEST have landed themselves in a position of widespread scrutiny.

BEST operates over 700 wet-leased electric buses, only 315 of which are supplied by Olectra. Yet, these buses dominate accident statistics

Olectra buses have been linked to 10 out of the 12 fatal accidents involving wet-leased electric buses in the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport’s (BEST) fleet this year.

A closer examination of the 10 Olectra bus accidents reveals recurring issues, including braking failures and insufficient driver training.

Transport experts have raised concerns about the safety standards of Olectra electric buses, suggesting that the braking systems may be faulty and insufficient for the weight of fully loaded buses.

The problem is exacerbated by Olectra’s inadequate driver training program. While BEST drivers undergo three months of training, wet-leased drivers are given only 15 days. Coupled with potential design flaws, such as faulty brakes, these issues have made Olectra buses a serious public safety concern.

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List of Olectra Bus Accidents in 2024

Rising Accidents and Fatalities in BEST Fleet

Between April 1 and December 9, 2024, 106 accidents were reported involving BEST buses, with wet-leased buses comprising 79 of them.

Of these, 20 were fatal, including a majority involving Olectra buses. The data shows a significant increase in accidents compared to the previous years—68 in 2023-24 and 73 in 2022-23.

Also Read: Old BMTC Buses Hit Revenue: CAG Report Reveals 25% Fleet Outdated

Calls for Accountability

BEST’s increasing reliance on wet-leased electric buses has led to concerns over safety and accountability. This has further been exacerbated by the recent trend of accidents involving Olectra buses particularly throughout 2024.

Many political groups, including the BEST Kamgar Sena, have demanded a thorough investigation into the safety of Olectra buses. 

Suhas Samant, the Sena’s president, has publicly criticized the poor braking mechanisms of Olectra buses, claiming that these defects directly contribute to the accidents.

The recurring accidents involving Olectra buses have prompted widespread calls for better vehicle safety checks and improvements in driver training programs. As the investigations on Olectra bus accidents continue, it is clear that urgent steps must be taken to ensure the safety of Mumbai’s public transport system and prevent future tragedies.