Approved funds spent, buses parked and decorated, but facilities never became functional; residents say civic neglect has turned the site into a drug hub
MUMBAI — More than a year after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced an ambitious plan to convert old double-decker BEST buses into libraries, cafés and art galleries, the project under the Makhdoom Ali Mahaimi flyover remains dormant, unused and forgotten.
The buses, once presented as a cultural and educational facility for the public, now stand covered in dust. Instead of readers, artists or families, the area has become a night shelter for people sleeping on pavements and a known spot for drug use, residents say.
Unusable double-decker buses were parked under the flyover following an announcement by Minister Deepak Kesarkar in December 2023. He had said that due to their historical value, these old BEST buses should be reused for public benefit rather than scrapped.
According to the plan, one bus near JJ Hospital was to function as a library, another near Al-Sadiq Hospital and Chuna Bhatti Masjid as an art gallery, and a third near Crawford Market as a café. The area around the buses was even decorated, raising hopes among local residents, many of them from the Muslim-dominated Dongri and nearby localities.
However, none of the buses have been opened to the public.
Shoaib Khan, a designer from Dongri, said the situation on the ground is worrying. “I have not seen a single bus open even for one day. Instead, these places have become a den for drug addicts. At night, people are often seen sleeping here. This is not what was promised to the public,” he said.
Residents point out that the project could have been especially useful for children and youth from nearby working-class and minority areas, where access to libraries and safe public spaces is limited. “A library here would have helped students a lot,” said a local shopkeeper, requesting anonymity. “Instead, we are left with filth and fear.”
Official records show that ₹69.23 lakh was approved for converting the three buses. Despite this, there is no visible outcome, raising serious questions about planning, monitoring and accountability within the civic body.
When contacted, BEST PRO Sudas Sawant said responsibility no longer lies with the transport undertaking. “BEST has handed over these buses to the BMC. Only the BMC can answer what happened after that,” he said.
BMC PR official Ganesh Puranik said he would seek details from the concerned ward office and respond. However, no reply was received from the civic body till the time of filing this report.
The silence from the authorities has added to public anger. Locals say that once again, promises made in areas with large Muslim populations have been ignored after announcements and photo opportunities.
As the buses continue to rot under the flyover, residents ask a simple question: where did the money go, and why has a project meant for public good been allowed to turn into a public hazard?
