On Monday, July 13, nearly 60 double-decker buses will resume operations to cater to the increase in the number of people on the roads. This comes after the lockdown relaxations were made under the “Mission Begin Again” in the state where people have resumed offices and other work.
The double-decker buses of BEST have a seating capacity for 90 passengers but only 45 passengers will be allowed in each bus with regards to the social distancing protocols. Earlier, the BEST had also begun the process of issuing and renewing new bus passes to the people. Furthermore, the BEST has also announced that it will launch several feeder routes from this week including buses outside CSMT and Churchgate station.
On the other hand, BEST has now been sending out electricity bills based on actual readings since the lockdown. Around 300 employees who read meters have been asked to note down actual readings across Mumbai, except in the containment zones as specified by the civic body. Earlier, the power consumers were receiving e-bills that were sent on average consumption much like other distributors.
In the past, power consumers of Tata Power, Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited (AEML), the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking, and the State-run Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Corporation Limited (MSEDCL), took to social media demanding an answer for the exorbitant amounts. In some cases, the bills were for more than ₹10,000. Mumbai has nearly 32 lakh residential power consumers and around eight lakh commercial consumers.
However, the power companies have responded stating that the high electricity bills are mostly because power utilities have been able to check meter readings in June after a period of two months. Meter readings had been discontinued since March 22, as per the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) directive. Instead, during the lockdown, the people were billed based on their average consumption of December, January and February.
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