Fadnavis Flags Off 157 New Electric BEST Buses, Urges Focus On Non-Fare Revenue For Financial Stability

Mumbai’s public transport system received a significant impetus on Tuesday (28 October) with the addition of 157 new air-conditioned electric buses to the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking’s fleet.

The new buses, inducted under a wet lease model, were flagged off by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the Colaba bus depot.

The induction of these eco-friendly buses are expected to help improve service frequency, reduce waiting times, and enhance commuter comfort on several high-demand routes across Mumbai.

The buses are part of BEST’s larger plan to expand and modernise its fleet amid growing concerns over service shortages and operational delays.

At present, BEST operates around 2,648 buses, of which only 308 are owned by the undertaking.

The remaining are leased, and the shortage has led to long waiting times, often between 30 and 45 minutes across several routes.

With the introduction of the new fleet, the total number of buses is expected to rise to nearly 2,800, offering much-needed relief to daily commuters.

The 12 metre long electric buses are equipped with ramps for senior citizens and differently-abled passengers.

Buses supplied by Paras Motors Industries include a kneeling mechanism, allowing them to tilt slightly to the left to make boarding and alighting easier.

The fleet will operate on 21 routes connecting major railway and Metro stations, including Andheri, Bandra, Kurla, Kandivali and Borivali, ensuring last-mile connectivity to Metro corridors 1, 2A, 7, and 3. Officials estimate these routes will cater to nearly 1.9 lakh passengers daily.

Speaking at the inauguration, Chief Minister Fadnavis called on BEST to diversify its revenue sources.

BEST must learn to sustain itself by enhancing revenue from non-fare sources, he said, emphasising that the transport body should target at least 40 per cent of its income from non-fare streams such as advertising, property development, and partnerships.

He also urged for the early rollout of a single-ticket system to improve commuter convenience.

The Chief Minister added that the decision to procure 5,000 new buses was taken during Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s tenure, and Tuesday’s flag-off marks continued progress towards that goal.

Please click here to add Swarajya as your preferred and trusted news source on Google

Also Read: DMRC Inks Pact To Develop Automated Cargo Evacuation System At Kandla Port