28 April,2025 07:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Sameer Surve
The BEST reduced the ticket fares in 2019 to increase ridership. File pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has approved a proposal to hike BEST bus fares by a minimum of R5 to a maximum of Rs 15. With this, the minimum fare of non-AC buses will be Rs 10 and for AC buses it will be Rs 12. The BEST had, in 2019, reduced the bus fares to increase ridership.
Currently, the minimum fare for travelling in a non-AC bus is Rs 5 and the maximum is Rs 20, while the fare for the AC bus is a minimum of R6 and a maximum of R25. After the revised fare structure, the minimum fare will be Rs 10 to Rs 35 for non-AC buses and Rs 12 to Rs 40 for the AC buses.
Mumbai's BEST bus ridership currently sits at around 31 lakh passengers daily in its fleet of 2186 buses. The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) owns 847 buses.
ALSO READ
"Only goal is to play our best cricket": PBKS batter Prabhsimran Singh
"We have to play our best game of cricket'": PBKS fast bowling coach James Hopes advise ahead of CSK clash
Akshaya Tritiya 2025 date, gold buying muhurat and why it’s so lucky
The Best Indian Astrologer in Europe for Future Prediction Astrology Consultation
Shoojit Sircar writes moving letter to Irrfan Khan on 5th death anniversary
The increase in ticket fares was proposed by BEST General Manager S V R Srinivas in February.
BEST currently generates a revenue of Rs 845 crore annually, and it is expected to reach around Rs 1400 crore with this hike in ticket prices. Official sources claim that the fare hike would generate Rs 590 crore more in revenue.
Civic Chief Bhushan Gagrani, who recently confirmed the proposal of a fare hike, said, "The BMC's resolution is a statutory requirement. We have done that. Now it is up to BEST."
However, the implementation of new fare will start after approval from the Mumbai Regional Transport Authority (MRTA).
Rupesh Shelatkar, a commuter rights activist, said, "Fare hike is not wrong, but it should be lower for shorter distances."
Rajesh Gupta, transport expert, said, "There is nothing wrong with increasing the ticket fare due to increasing operational costs. However, the administration should tell commuters what additional facilities they will get along with the increased ticket price. Will the waiting period of the passengers be reduced?"
31 lakh
Volume of daily ridership
Rs 40
Maximum fare for AC buses
