BEST Begins Disbursing Covid Allowance to Over 9,000 Retired Employees After Long Delay
After 5-yr delay, BEST begins disbursing Covid allowance to over 9,000 retired staff
The Indian Express
Image: The Indian Express
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) has initiated the disbursement of ₹29.22 crore in pending Covid-19 allowances to 9,077 retired employees after nearly five years. While this payment is a positive step, union representatives highlight that many employees are still awaiting gratuity and additional payments.
- 01BEST has begun disbursing ₹29.22 crore in Covid-19 allowances to retired staff.
- 02The allowance was introduced in 2020 for employees working during the pandemic.
- 03Despite the payout, around 1,500 to 2,000 workers have yet to receive their allowances.
- 04The delay in payments was primarily due to financial constraints faced by BEST.
- 05Officials have not provided a timeline for clearing remaining dues, including gratuity payments.
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The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) has commenced the disbursement of ₹29.22 crore in pending Covid-19 allowances to 9,077 retired employees, nearly five years after the allowance was first announced. Initially introduced in 2020 at ₹300 per day, this allowance was meant for staff who continued to operate essential services during the Covid-19 lockdown. While payments were made for the initial lockdown period, the allowance was discontinued after December 2020, leaving many employees without compensation for subsequent months. Union representatives, including Shashank Rao, have welcomed the latest payout but noted that it is incomplete, with 1,500 to 2,000 workers still awaiting their allowances and gratuity payments. The delay has been attributed to BEST's financial difficulties. In August 2025, with support from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), BEST had previously released ₹52 crore to approximately 19,400 employees as part of a larger sanctioned outlay of ₹78 crore. While the current disbursal is being executed in phases, officials have not specified a timeline for addressing the remaining dues.
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This disbursement provides financial relief to retired employees who had been awaiting their Covid-19 allowances for years, helping them manage their post-retirement expenses.
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