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BEST for makeover of its transport system in Mumbai:GM

The BEST is all set for a makeover of its transport system by introducing some plans like splitting of long distance routes, introduction of VRS and upgradation of bus depots.

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MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) is all set for a makeover of its transport system by introducing some plans like splitting of long distance routes, introduction of VRS and upgradation of bus depots.
   
With a grim financial future being forecast for 2008-09, BEST General Manager Uttam Khobragade told that they would consider splitting long distance bus routes in order to curb expenditure and reduce stress on staff.
   
"I have studied that in a bus starting from suburban Borivali to South Mumbai not even one passenger travels the whole route. We need to keep nodal points somewhere on the route," Khobragade said.

The three or four nodal points would be places where passengers on long routes could alight and take other buses to their destination, thereby saving fuel expenses as well as easing the burden on staff operating the bus, he said.

There would be no land acquisition needed to introduce this scheme and the information about routes would be made available to the public in a booklet, he said.
   
Khobragade has also blamed salaries and excessive manpower in the organisation for a drain on revenues and said a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for employees could be in the offing to curb this expenditure.
   
"There is no other organisation where almost 80 per cent of the revenue is spent on employees and we could consider the possibility of such a scheme in the future," he said.

The BEST has also been leasing out properties at its bus depots to private firms and by making these locations as "fun places" more people could also end up using their buses.

"Presently, it is almost impossible to convince anyone to go to our depots in the night since they believe it is unsafe. We would like to provide eateries and other facilities at our depots which would attract people," Khobragade said.
    
The BEST has cleared proposals to lease out about 10 per cent of the land at some of its depots, which has fetched revenue and is expected to improve appearance and facilities of these locations.

In the last year, BEST has also earned revenue by installing television screens and cameras in its buses, putting advertising signs on the handles used by commuters and sides of the buses.
   
"Soon we will also introduce advertising on the back of the seats of buses which will earn us further revenue," Khobragade said.
   
He also pointed to the fact that this year BEST had managed to save almost Rs 30 crore on fuel through various measures and the depot manager scheme introduced by him had significantly helped boost revenue and improve operations.
   
"Earlier, there was no coordination between officials at a depot and with the introduction of a depot manager we have managed to improve accountability," Khobragade said.
   
However, despite losses, the GM said, he was not in favour of increasing bus ticket fares for the commuters of Mumbai.

"The people of Mumbai should face no more burden," he said, adding that they are hopeful of reducing charges for bus passes to attract more commuters.

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