BEST trade unions have taken on the government and Shiv Sena-led civic body over the “abysmal allocations” to the undertaking in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) budget, calling it a conspiracy to shut down the undertaking. The BMC has earmarked a loan of R406 crore and allotted R775 crore to the BEST Undertaking. But legally, unions said there are no provisions for such a loan.

“The BEST has been working as the city’s lifeline in the absence of local trains and staff have not stopped for even a single day. Its workers have given their lives to the undertaking. What is earmarked in the BMC budget is injustice. What happened to the promise of the merger of the BEST and BMC budget?” asked Shashank Sharad Rao, convener, BEST Workers Joint Action Committee.