BEST issues power connection rules for Ganeshotsav 2026 mandals

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking (BEST) has released detailed guidelines for temporary electricity connections for public Ganeshotsav mandals ahead of the 2026 festival. Mandals must apply online, submit documents including police and BMC permissions, and meet mandatory electrical safety standards such as Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) testing. Applications require the mandal name, address, power period, bank account details, and a refund form for security deposit return via NEFT.

For roadside pandals, a BMC No-Objection Certificate (NOC) is compulsory under a 2015 Bombay High Court order, along with police station permission. BEST charges Rs 90 for a single-phase and Rs 145 for a three-phase demand application. Connection charges are Rs 150 for single-phase and Rs 200 for three-phase where infrastructure exists, otherwise actual cost applies.

Security deposit equals the mandal's 2025 bill or Rs 20 per day per kilowatt for new mandals, whichever is higher. Meter deposits range from Rs 3,500 to Rs 10,500. Temporary connections will be billed at the concessional residential tariff approved by MERC, effective from April 1, 2026, with fixed charges of Rs 135 for 0-100 units and energy charge of Rs 2.02 per unit.