Fire at Navi Mumbai Depot Destroys 5 Buses, Raises Concerns Over EV Safety

Navi Mumbai, 5th June 2025: A fire broke out at the Ghansoli bus depot in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday morning, gutting at least five buses, both electric and diesel, and reigniting concerns about the safety of electric vehicles in public transport. While there were no injuries or casualties, the incident has led to significant financial losses for the transport department.

According to preliminary reports, the fire may have been caused by a short circuit during repair work on one of the electric buses. Firefighters arrived swiftly and managed to contain the blaze before it spread further.

The incident comes amid growing scrutiny of electric bus safety following revelations that a batch of newly delivered buses to the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking lacked basic fire safety features. Just days ago, officials found that 50 new electric buses delivered by Evey Trans Private Limited, an Olectra subsidiary, did not have Fire Detection and Suppression Systems (FDSS), a key requirement under current automotive safety norms.

The 12-metre-long buses, part of a 2,100-bus procurement aimed at boosting Mumbai’s green public transport fleet, were registered between March 18 and May 16 with the Tardeo RTO. However, some units that arrived at the Majas depot after May 16 remain unregistered. All 50 buses, found lacking FDSS during inspections, have been grounded and relocated to the Shivaji Nagar depot until further notice.

“FDSS is essential for onboard fire safety. Without it, these buses are not roadworthy,” said a transport official on condition of anonymity. The system, designed to detect and extinguish fires, especially in engine compartments, within seconds, complies with the AIS-135 standard, which mandates fire suppression within one minute of detection, along with audio-visual evacuation alerts.

Industry sources indicated that FDSS units are usually installed during manufacturing. However, due to a market-wide shortage, Evey Trans dispatched the buses ahead of schedule to expedite registration and depot processing. The supplier has committed to installing the missing safety systems by mid-June.

Wednesday’s depot fire, while not directly linked to the newly delivered buses, has further intensified calls for stringent enforcement of safety norms as the city transitions to electric mobility. Transport authorities are expected to issue stricter compliance directives in the wake of the incident.