Mumbai: The 25-strong fleet of air-conditioned hybrid buses, for the convenience of commuters from the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), in operation since March 2018, is far from the hot-ticket service it was intended to be. Eight months on, the service is running up a loss of Rs 1 crore every month, according to an official from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). A meeting will be held with the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply Transport Undertaking (BEST), which is currently looking after the operations of these buses, to assess the situation, the official informed.
As per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the MMRDA and BEST the project was begun on a no-profit-no-loss basis, and if at all any profit were made, revenue is to be shared with the MMRDA. The official said, “We have made a capital investment of Rs 50 crore to procure these buses. At our upcoming meeting, BEST officials will be asked if they have a solution.”
However, R A Rajeev, MMRDA commissioner, took an optimistic view of the situation, saying, “These hybrid buses will provide the last-mile connectivity, once the on-going Mumbai Metro projects are completed. For instance, if a commuter getting off the air-conditioned metro has to take a non-ac mode of transport to reach his destination, there is a chance he will continue to use his car. But if there is an option, such as the hybrid bus, for last mile connectivity, commuters will be inclined to use public transport service regularly. The last mile connectivity concept is used in many states, especially abroad, and has proved successful.”
Currently, the hybrid buses provide shuttle services within the BKC and only four long-route services starts from here. The shuttle services run from Bandra Railway station to Diamond Market, Kurla station (W) to MMRDA Pay and Park, Bandra terminus to CA Institute, Rani Laxmibai Chowk (Sion Circle) to BKC via Dharavi, and Rani Laxmibai Chowk to BKC via Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg. The four long routes are from BKC to Borivli, Hiranandani Estate (Thane), Maharana Pratap Chowk (Mulund) and Jalvayu Vihar (Kharghar).
A senior BEST official, on request of confidentiality said, “The condition of the MMRDA, to ply hybrid buses only on BKC routes, is posing a hurdle. If this restriction is removed, then possibly the chances of earning revenue may increase. However, there is a good response to hybrid buses for the Diamond Market at BKC, as compared to other routes.”