BEST commuters rise by 89% at some depots

MUMBAI: BEST commuters increased by 89% at few bus depot areas in the suburbs during the weekend, with overall commuter strength going beyond 30 lakh, compared to pre-fare cut days, sources said.
Latest BEST statistics showed that during the weekend Poisar depot had 55,172 commuters (89% rise) and Mulund 57,713 (76%), while Vikhroli saw a 69% jump, and Goregaon 63%. Buses in Worli area were packed, with a 53% rise daily.
BEST operated AC buses from Churchgate-World Trade Centre, CSMT-NCPA and Dadar-Worli and ferried more than 25,000 office-goers on an average daily, sources said.
The introduction of AC buses outside CSMT and Churchgate hit share taxi business, with a dip in ridership by at least 10%, sources said. The AC bus costs Rs6 for up to 5km. BEST will operate nearly 50 trips for every AC bus, with four each deployed at CSMT and Churchgate, at 20-minute frequency. Senior officials are confident daily commuter strength will increase once 100 new AC buses arrive next month. Somit Sen