To cut costs, BEST also decided to cancel perks given to employees, such as overtime, cash allowance, medical and children’s educational allowances, scholarships, canteen allowances, vehicle loans, travel allowance, leave encashment, leave travel allowance and post-retirement lifelong bus passes. It has not changed basic salaries. Vacant posts will not be filled.

To cut costs, BEST also decided to cancel perks given to employees, such as overtime, cash allowance, medical and children’s educational allowances, scholarships, canteen allowances, vehicle loans, travel allowance, leave encashment, leave travel allowance and post-retirement lifelong bus passes. It has not changed basic salaries. Vacant posts will not be filled.

These cuts are part of the reforms suggested by Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta. Incidentally, the Shiv Sena’s BEST union leader, Suhas Samant, has also supported the pay cuts as a much-needed reform for the long-term health of the transport undertaking. The Bharatiya Janata Party chose to not support the proposal.

Mr. Samant said the pay cut would be a temporary measure. “Once the BEST merges with the BMC, the employees will start receiving perks on a par with BMC employees,” he said. The BEST-BMC merger is awaiting approval from the State government.