As the local train services are closed for general passengers due to the coronavirus crisis in Mumbai, the number of passengers travelling in buses run by the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) have increased significantly.
Therefore, the BEST has decided to introduce 308 electric air-conditioned buses in order to accommodate the increasing number of passengers. These buses are on lease and eight buses will enter the BEST fleet in the coming 15 days. Moreover, 300 buses will run in phases from November.
BEST currently has 3,500 under its fleet and the ownership of nearly 898 buses will come to an end. The BEST will stop their operation by March next year. Of the 1,200 minibuses on leases, the BEST has added only 460 buses to its fleet. The addition of 308 buses might resolve the problem of accommodating passengers.
Passengers have been facing several inconveniences while following the rules of social distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak. Therefore, the BEST is making efforts to increase the number of buses. Surendra Kumar Bagade, general manager of BEST, in July last year announced that electric buses would be added. However, only 38 buses have been added as of now.
Of these, there are only six air-conditioned buses owned by BEST and 32 minibuses. Now, eight more buses will be added in the next 15 days. Moreover, 160 minibuses and 140 one-storey buses will arrive in November. 300 air-conditioned buses will be on the lease. Each single-decker bus costs around ₹2 crores and a mini-bus costs around ₹1.70 crores.
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