Rs15 BEST deal rolls on ‘C’ corridor

Starting June 6, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) is promising you more for less. In a fresh incentive encouraging commuters to travel on the express ‘C’ corridor routes, the transport wing of the undertaking has devised a new discount scheme which will be applicable from Monday.

For all pass holders of the BEST’s monthly unlimited “Magic Bus Pass” scheme, which was until now applicable only for regular and ‘Limited’ bus routes, paying an additional Rs15 will enable unlimited travel for one day on the 14 express corridors which connect the distant suburbs to the city.

As per the previous rule, commuters would have to buy a separate pass for Rs800 if they wanted to travel unlimited on the corridor routes. Unlimited travel for one day required a daily pass worth Rs40, even for those with passes for other non-AC services. But pass holders can now pay just Rs15 and hop on to the buses which ply on the express corridors and travel as much as they want. On March 14, the BEST had introduced the Rs40 worth daily unlimited bus pass to encourage commute on the prestigious long-distance bus corridors.

Started in late 2010, the BEST’ express corridors virtually run along the rail network, connecting the distant suburbs with the main city. A bus is available every 15-20 minutes and, the stops being few, travelling time is cut short.

Seniors want 50% discount
A senior citizens’ organisation, the Federation of Senior Citizens’ Organisations Maharashtra (FESCOM), has demanded at least 50% discount on bus fares - regular tickets as well as passes - for senior citizens’ who travel in BEST buses.

Presently, the BEST offers selective and insubstantial discounts for senior citizens who want to travel in its buses. Consider, for instance, the bus passes. For monthly passes, a mere discount of Rs25 and for quarterly ones, a flat discount of Rs50 is offered.

FESCOM has pointed out that, in contrast, other bus services in the MMR offer discounts for senior citizens.