Mumbai: In a significant step towards resolving labour issues at the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking, the Maharashtra government on Friday constituted a five-member committee to examine the demands raised by the BEST Joint Workers’ Action Committee and other employee unions and recommend corrective measures.The panel, which includes BEST General Manager Sonia Sethi and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, has been asked to conduct a comprehensive review of the unions’ demands and submit its recommendations to the state government within 15 days.The committee was formed following the recent industrial action threatened by employee unions, which had announced an indefinite strike from June 18 over a range of service, recruitment and financial issues. The government’s move is aimed at defusing labour unrest while addressing structural and financial challenges confronting Mumbai’s public transport and power utility.A key focus area for the committee will be employee-related concerns, including wage settlements, pending dues of retired and separated workers, recruitment policies and the possible regularisation or absorption of contract workers engaged by BEST. The panel will also study statutory provisions under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, while examining the legal and financial implications of these demands.The committee has additionally been tasked with assessing the feasibility of merging BEST’s standalone ‘C’ Budget with the BMC’s main ‘A’ Budget, a long-standing demand that has resurfaced amid concerns over the utility’s financial sustainability.Beyond labour issues, the panel will review measures to strengthen the undertaking’s operational capabilities. These include expanding BEST’s owned bus fleet, securing financial support from the BMC, and evaluating redevelopment proposals for BEST depot properties. It will also examine objections raised by trade unions regarding the long-term leasing or redevelopment of BEST-owned land and assets.Another important aspect of the review will be identifying avenues to enhance BEST’s revenue generation and improve its financial health, reducing its dependence on external support.The Urban Development Department will coordinate the committee’s functioning, while technical experts and specialists may be invited to assist in its deliberations. The committee’s recommendations are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of BEST and its workforce, while ensuring sustainable public transport and power services for Mumbai.