On the first day itself, the air-conditioned (AC) double-decker electric bus received an overwhelming response as the bus finally hit the Mumbai streets today, February 21. If reports are to be believed, office-goers flocked to the bus stop to commute via India’s first double decker e-bus.
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) officials said the newly introduced AC double-decker e-bus will ply from Monday to Friday on route no. A-115, which operates between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and NCPA.
The tickets for this bus will be 100 per cent digital. This means, the passenger cannot buy a ticket on the bus unlike regular BEST buses. Commuters will have to download the Chalo app or buy the Chalo smartcard that can be topped up.
How to book tickets?
Select the journey and just tap the mobile on the machine at the entry door (front) and tap once again while alighting during exit (rear). The money gets deducted online from the e-wallet UPI or online payment linked with the app.
Features:
The electric double-decker bus seats 73 people. According to the BEST officials, it is equipped with CCTV cameras and automatic doors and can be charged in 80 minutes.
The transportation company currently has 45 electric AC buses of various sizes, and 100 more wet-lease buses will be added to its fleet in stages this year.
Presently, five of the bus depots have e-charging facilities. Soon the e-charging infrastructure will be ready at 27 bus depots across Mumbai.
In the financial year 2023-24, BEST is planning to introduce around 4,000 e-buses in the city.
Timings:
First bus from CSMT will be at 8.45 am and 4 pm, the last bus will be at 12.20 pm and 7.40 pm. On the return trip from NCPA, the first bus will be at 9.02 am and 4.20 pm, the last bus will be at 12.40 pm and 8 pm.
The bus would be running every 30 minutes.
Price:
The fare for the A-115 route will be INR 6 for 5 km. As an incentive, the Chalo app offers a 17% discount on two tickets for the same day.
Meanwhile, on weekends, this bus will be put on the 'Heritage Tours'. The fare of upper deck for Heritage Tour is INR 150 and INR 75 for the lower deck.
Route:
Other bus routes that will receive four to five additional buses include CSMT to the Gateway of India, Kurla to BKC, and Bandra East.
As more AC double-decker e-buses will be operational in Mumbai in the coming months, the BEST officials have identified routes on which these e-buses will ply: Colaba depot, Majas depot, and Kurla depot, to name a few.
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