BMC asks BEST to run feeder buses to Monorail, Metro stations
TNN | Mar 13, 2019, 06:26 IST
Representative imageMUMBAI: The BMC has asked the cash-strapped BEST to "integrate" its operations with the Monorail and Metro networks to provide feeder services outside every station in the suburbs and the island city.
"There are so many Metro routes coming up in the city, and this will be a game changer. We will require several buses, especially smaller AC and non-AC buses on feeder routes to provide last mile connectivity," said a senior BEST official.
The transport undertaking plans to launch 450 mini and midi buses (AC and non AC) on these feeder routes, said sources. It has petitioned the high court to allow wet leasing the mini and midi buses after the BEST union moved court against it. Wet leasing means partly outsourcing the services in a bid to reduce BEST's running costs.
"We have a feeder route outside Metro 1 (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar) station on the Western Express Highway that ferries commuters to the commercial hub of Bandra-Kurla complex in hybrid electric AC buses. We may start such shuttle services outside other stations in the near future," said another official.
The BMC's prod comes as the projected deficit in BEST's 2019-20 budget is Rs 770 crore. The civic body has also asked BEST to start "point-to-point" services using smaller buses to ferry office-goers daily and even lease unused spaces at bus depots to offset losses and increase its income.
The BMC has referred the BEST budget back and asked it to implement reforms to offset losses. "With the model of conduct for polls in place now, the BEST budget will remain pending for three months," said a BEST committee member.
"It is a strange rule that the BEST has to show a surplus budget every year - with a Rs 1 lakh surplus in the final balance sheet," said panel member Sunil Ganacharya. "The BMC should grant funds or merge the civic and BEST budgets," he demanded at the panel meeting.
"There are so many Metro routes coming up in the city, and this will be a game changer. We will require several buses, especially smaller AC and non-AC buses on feeder routes to provide last mile connectivity," said a senior BEST official.
The transport undertaking plans to launch 450 mini and midi buses (AC and non AC) on these feeder routes, said sources. It has petitioned the high court to allow wet leasing the mini and midi buses after the BEST union moved court against it. Wet leasing means partly outsourcing the services in a bid to reduce BEST's running costs.
"We have a feeder route outside Metro 1 (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar) station on the Western Express Highway that ferries commuters to the commercial hub of Bandra-Kurla complex in hybrid electric AC buses. We may start such shuttle services outside other stations in the near future," said another official.
The BMC's prod comes as the projected deficit in BEST's 2019-20 budget is Rs 770 crore. The civic body has also asked BEST to start "point-to-point" services using smaller buses to ferry office-goers daily and even lease unused spaces at bus depots to offset losses and increase its income.
The BMC has referred the BEST budget back and asked it to implement reforms to offset losses. "With the model of conduct for polls in place now, the BEST budget will remain pending for three months," said a BEST committee member.
"It is a strange rule that the BEST has to show a surplus budget every year - with a Rs 1 lakh surplus in the final balance sheet," said panel member Sunil Ganacharya. "The BMC should grant funds or merge the civic and BEST budgets," he demanded at the panel meeting.
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