Mumbai: BEST doubles fares, but will scrap 400 buses

BEST buses outside Dadar station. File pic/Ashish Raje

Even as the BEST administration has decided to hike ticket fares, 400 buses from its own fleet are set to be scrapped by November 2025. Simultaneously, BEST is still waiting for the delivery of 2100 wet-lease buses ordered back in 2022 - and has no plans to expand its own fleet.

Last week, civic chief Bhushan Gagrani approved the proposal for a fare hike. Ticket prices will increase by Rs 5 to Rs 15. However, as fares rise, the fleet continues to shrink. Currently, BEST owns only 650 buses, of which 400 will be scrapped within the next 18 months. As per transport norms, buses must be scrapped after 15 years.

Officials claim the average waiting time for a bus is 30 minutes due to the shortage of vehicles. File pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Officials claim the average waiting time for a bus is now 25 to 30 minutes due to the shortage of vehicles. Ideally, waiting time should not exceed 10 to 12 minutes. If it's reduced, ridership will automatically increase," said a former BEST official.

A BEST spokesperson confirmed that 400 buses are due for scrapping. "The work order for 2100 wet-lease electric buses was placed earlier, and the contractor has assured us they will be delivered by April 2026. So far, we've received around 500 buses. Since we are not procuring new buses ourselves, our focus is on wet-lease arrangements to maintain operations. Once the remaining buses arrive, we can improve frequency," the spokesperson said.

According to official records, the 2100 electric buses ordered in 2022 were meant to be delivered within a year. The delay, officials claim, is due to a shortage of imported parts required for the electric buses. Sources say BEST doesn't have the budget to procure its own buses. A CNG bus costs around R60 lakh, while an electric AC bus costs approximately Rs 1.8 crore.

Civic activist Anil Gagali warned that fare hikes without improved frequency will drive commuters to auto-rickshaws and taxis, leading to a loss in ridership. "It's better to raise fares after improving services," he said. Former BEST committee member Ravi Raja supported the fare revision, noting that it's the first hike in six years. "We need to balance fare with operational sustainability, just like autos and taxis have done," he said.

Commuter rights activist Rupesh Shelatkar pointed out that even older CNG buses can be used with RTA approval. "BEST must maintain its own fleet because the city has already faced disruptions due to wet-lease staff strikes," he added. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Transport Authority held a meeting regarding the BEST fare hike on Wednesday. A BEST official claimed they were aware of the meeting, but had not received any details about it.