Some of them include getting buses on lease, leasing land inside bus depots, curtailing own fleet, raising fares and reducing employee costs.
With losses touching Rs 1760 crore, the BEST undertaking is struggling to revive itself. The citizens and municipal corporation also wants the BEST to come up with legitimate measures that would pull it out from the financial mess. Some of them include getting buses on lease, leasing land inside bus depots, curtailing own fleet, raising fares and reducing employee costs.
As part of its revival process, the Brihanmumbai Mumbai Corporation (BMC) has asked the crisis-ridden BEST to implement certain measures. The authorities are also looking at introducing dedicated bus lanes which would increase the number of trips and make commute faster. At present, the number of daily commuters has dropped to 25 lakh in 2017 from 42 lakh in 2013.
Other suggestions included the merging of BEST's budget with the BMC in order to increase the funds. Scrapping of the loss making routes is also being looked into. There are 504 routes, of which over 70 per cent are loss making. So, the BEST is working towards improving the situation.
The BEST is working on installing GPS inside the BEST buses, having a system at bus stands that would show expected time of arrival in order to improve punctuality and efficiency.
Bus fares were increased between 1 and 12 across slabs in April although fare hike is being opposed. They have also removed certain benefits given to school children. The transport experts want stringent on-street parking policy so that people leave their cars behind and take the buses. The BEST is also planning to get 450 buses that includes both AC and non-AC services. The BEST administration plans to scrap 7200 vacant posts that is nearly 18 per cent of its total workforce. They spend Rs 2000 crore on salaries and allowances.
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