MMRDA may suggest bringing down AC hybrid bus fare to BEST

Citing that the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply Transport (BEST) is not running the 25 AC hybrid buses efficiently, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has said that it may ask BEST to bring down the fare for these buses so as to increase ridership and make it financially more viable.

Currently, the 25 AC hybrid buses being run by the BEST on several routes are incurring losses of around Rs 1 crore each. The losses are borne by the MMRDA that had purchased these buses and given them to BEST.

The 25 hybrid-electric AC buses came into effect in March 2018 and have had BKC as its destination. The BEST operates these buses from Kurla, Sion and Bandra railway stations to BKC. The BEST also operates limited point-to-point services from Borivali, Thane, Kharghar and Mulund to BKC.

However, the MMRDA feels that the BEST is not running the buses efficiently to yield profit. An MMRDA official said, "They are not running the hybrid buses properly, and in a meeting next week we may ask them to bring down the fare from Rs 21, which is the minimum fare, currently. Also, they're overstaffed for running these buses; a factor that increases the operational cost."

The MMRDA official added, "At least two trips are wasted by the BEST, on a regular basis, when the driver goes to park at Dharavi depot at night from far off destinations like Borivali, Thane and so on. Again, in the morning these buses go empty towards the suburbs from the Dharavi depot to pick up passengers. This is wastage of money, and the BEST claims its other depots do not have sufficient infrastructure to have these AC buses parked there."

Last week, things turned ugly when the BEST said it will take action against the MMRDA, if the latter doesn't bear the Rs 8 crore loss for operating these buses on an urgent basis. Until now, around 15 lakh passengers have availed the services of 25 AC hybrid buses that can run on both diesel and electricity.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Surendra Bagde, General Manager, BEST, said, "We are open to discussing, and whatever suggestions are made by the MMRDA, we will discuss and take appropriate decisions."

Not A Happy Journey

• Currently, the 25 AC hybrid buses being run by the BEST on several routes are incurring losses of around Rs 1 crore each. The losses are borne by the MMRDA that had purchased these buses and given them to BEST. 
• MMRDA feels that the BEST is not running the buses efficiently to yield profit. Until now, around 15 lakh passengers have availed the services of 25 AC hybrid buses that can run on both diesel and electricity.