BEST fails to make 5,000 trips, loses Rs 55 lakh a day

MUMBAI: Since a year, the BEST has been unable make 5,000 trips, which is around 10% of its total daily trips, due to congestion on roads. This has resulted in a loss of Rs 55 lakh a day, said an official.
"In Mumbai, it is a challenge to have a dedicated bus corridor, given the growth of private vehicles and the traffic snarls. Metro work has added to the woes. Our buses are stuck and this results in 10% loss of km. The existing BEST bus fleet of 3,337 buses is scheduled to cover 5 lakh km across city and neighbouring Thane and Navi Mumbai daily but there is a shortfall of 50,000 km a day," he added while speaking a day before BEST Day.

Addressing the media on Monday, BEST general manager Surendrakumar Bagde announced that BEST will soon come out with smaller buses-midi and mini-to beat congestion. "We will also bring out a mobile app by December so that commuters know the expected time of arrival of a bus," he said.

The app is being tested at two depots-Backbay and Wadala-with GPS being installed in 250 buses, he said.

Chemburkar said he has written to joint police commissioner (traffic) Amitesh Kumar, requesting that BEST inspectors be empowered to challan those illegally parking vehicles 15m near bus stops. Bagde said at BKC, the dedicated bus corridor has been temporarily closed for repairs. -Somit Sen