A portion of the city’s popular double-decker buses is currently on the verge of being scrapped as they’ve reached the recommended age limit of 15 years after they were originally procured in 2005.
However, citizens, trade union members and experts have said that the buses appear to be in good condition and that it makes sense to continue using them in these uncertain times. It was previously reported that BEST will remove around 900 buses out of rotation which would also include around 60 double-decker buses in the city. BEST currently has a fleet of 120 double-decker buses at its depots.
Read - BEST To Roll Out At Least 60 Double-Decker Buses
“There is no new clear plan to procure buses, especially double-deckers, and scrapping the existing ones will spell doom. What the BEST is doing is getting 21-seater small buses, which in the times of social distancing do not cater to even 10 commuters," one of the commuters said.
BEST was on course for the acquisition of 50 double-decker buses earlier this year as it put around 70 buses out of the rotation. However, the coronavirus pandemic has certainly upended those plans. BEST buses are considered to be the lifeline of the city as thousands rely on the service for their daily commute.
Advocate Prashant Sane, who was previously the Traffic Officer at BEST said - "The BEST Undertaking always cites court directives for everything. However, I feel that it has some of the best engineering and maintenance practices in Asia and if they approach for concessions and validity extensions, I do not think the courts will refuse exemptions. But BEST, for some reason does not do so.”
“Also, one must thoroughly investigate the dealings of the scrap department, as there have been instances of misdeeds," Sane added.
Also read - BEST Double-Decker Buses To Operate From Western Express Highway
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