At first meeting of new BEST committee, Sena (UBT) flags discrepancies in compensation figures for mishap victims

Mumbai: The first meeting of the newly constituted BEST committee turned into an attack on the administration after Shiv Sena (UBT) members flagged discrepancies in compensation figures proposed for accident victims, including what they alleged was an inflated payout in a case that went before the National Lok Adalat in December.Opposition members pointed to one instance where the claim amount was shown as Rs 3 lakh but the finalised disbursement figure in BEST's proposal was Rs 4 lakh. Calling the mismatch "strange", Sena (UBT) corporators demanded that the administration submit complete documentation for each case, including Aadhaar details of beneficiaries, FIR copies, accident particulars, and supporting papers to ensure compensation is released to the rightful recipients. The overall compensation to be paid in various mishaps totals nearly Rs 2 crore.
Committee chairperson Trushna Vishwasrao acknowledged discrepancies but said the proposal needed in-principle clearance as compensation had been pending for nearly two months and must be processed within 45 days. While clearing the proposal, she directed the administration to submit FIR copies, stamp duty receipts and detailed explanations for each case within 15 days, with opposition members warning they would escalate the matter to the mayor, municipal commissioner and chief minister if irregularities persist.Said Sena (UBT) member Nitin Nandgaonkar: "It is confusing. You bring in a single-page document with just the name of the victim/family member, the FIR number (and not details), the claim amount, and the amount finalised for disbursal, amount given so far and balance left. Apart from these columns with figures, there is no information to apprise us about the particular accident." He argued that the committee cannot clear large payouts without basic verification.Sunil Ahir of Sena (UBT) asked why a lower amount was reflected as the claim and a higher amount as the disbursement, and demanded an inquiry to determine whether it was an error or a deliberate manipulation by officials handling legal matters and payments.A BEST official maintained that the Rs 3 lakh figure pertained to the stamp duty stage, and that when the matter came up for hearing, an order was passed for a higher amount of Rs 4 lakh. "We will provide all documents to the panel members as requested," he added. Separately, corporator Amey Ghole wrote to Vishwasrao seeking adequate compensation for those injured in the Bhandup bus crash near the railway station last year and jobs in BEST for the next of kin of those who died. BEST Kamgar Sena also petitioned mayor Ritu Tawde and municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, demanding the civic budget grant to BEST for 2026-27 be raised from Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 3,000 crore.