After Aadhaar enrollments on private premises was barred in Mumbai, the government has found a unique alternative to set up registration counters at BEST bus depots to ensure continued progress on Aadhaar enrollments¬.
 
In an attempt to check the rising number of fake Aadhaar registrations, the state government had recently passed a circular barring UIDAI centres from operating on private premises.
 
According to a report published in The Times of India, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has shortlisted six BEST bus depots, located at Borivali, Bandra, Wadala, Anik, Mulund and Mumbai Central, that will also operate as Aadhaar registration centres.
 
“These bus depots have been shortlisted because they see a lot of commuters and also have many employees working there. We plan to have at least 5-7 machines at these centres so that the enrollment is fast and without any waiting time,” a senior civic official told TOI.
 
As per the new norms, UIDAI has been directed to first issue Aadhaar cards to middle and low class population, who are the main beneficiaries of the direct benefits transfer (DBT) scheme. Keeping these guidelines in mind the BMC zeroed in on BEST bus depots as the ideal choice, the official said.
 
At present, the BMC has 145 Aadhaar enrollment centres and there are plans to add another 300 centres soon. Since most of the schemes, including cylinder subsidy and distribution of provident fund (PF) to state employees, require that a district have 80% or more Aadhaar coverage, it has necessary for the state government to quicken the process. Currently, only 68% of the population has registered with the UIDAI.