The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, will assist the BEST undertaking in redeveloping five of its bus depots into world-class facilities via the public-private partnership (PPP) model, which will improve non-fare revenue collection by optimum utilisation of land. The IFC will come up with the design and development plan and architectural concept plan and provide technical specifications and functional requirements and develop detailed estimates of the project cost.

The bus depots that will be redeveloped are Dindoshi, Ghatkopar, Wadala, Deonar, Anik and Pratiksha Nagar in Sion. The BEST has 27 depots across the city, of which several are at prime locations. Emmanuel B Nyirinkindi, global vice-president, IFC, visited the BEST headquarters at Colaba on Wednesday in connection with the monetisation and redevelopment of bus depots and held discussions with BEST General Manager Lokesh Chandra.