At Mumbai’s bus depots, the people who keep the city moving work under ceilings that could come down at any moment. During inspections across 27 BEST depots on Sunday, committee member Nitin Nadgaonkar found the Vikhroli depot in a condition that raised serious concerns — cracked walls, a weakening roof slab, overgrown surroundings, and even reports of snakes nearby. But what stood out wasn’t just the decay. It was how normal it has become. “How can drivers and conductors rest in such conditions?” Nadgaonkar asked. “Every employee here is working while putting their life at risk.”

BEST committee member Nitin Nadgaonkar (in brown shirt) during his inspection with the depot manager