As the Maharashtra government announces unlock in phases, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) also resumed the local bus service will resume for all from today, June 7.
However, the suburban trains have still restricted entries only to essential service personnel. Hence, experts suggest that BEST ridership is likely to double as citizens will depend more on buses with ease of restrictions and more people going to work or outdoors.
Sources said that the ridership is likely to increase from nine lakhs daily to nearly 18 lakhs in the next few days. Moreover, there are plans to operate double deckers on Express highways.
Also Read: Mumbai To Follow Level 3 Unlock Plan. Here's What's Allowed From June 7
Meanwhile, BEST spokesperson Manoj Varade said that the maximum fleet will be on roads, committee member Sunil Ganacharya was sceptical. The fleet size of BEST’s own buses has dropped to 1,995 while it has 1,250 buses on wet lease. How will it cater to the rush of citizens? There could be chaos at bus stops if there is no proper planning.
Moreover, the BEST announced that it will allow 100 per cent sitting occupancy to the passengers. Due to this, queues are also expected at bus stops as BEST will not allow standees to travel in buses although it will ferry more passengers than it did last week.
On the other hand, it was observed that the transport body has not been affected adversely by the ongoing COVID-19 second wave, like the way it was hit hard during the first wave, last year.
As the coronavirus cases are going down in various districts across the state, the lockdown restrictions will be eased on the basis of the COVID-19 positivity rate and availability of oxygen beds. The order will come into effect from Monday, June 7.
Also Read: MSRTC bus services to resume with full capacity from June 7 in Maharashtra; Check out the SOPs here
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