Say transport body needs more funds, immediate priority should be to expand bus fleet to meet rising demand
Transport experts feel BEST should procure at least 2000 new buses each year. Representation pic
Transport experts lashed out at the BEST Undertaking’s revival plan which involves converting three bus depots into film theatres. “The Maharashtra government could raise Rs 18,000 crore for the Coastal Road. For BEST, why is it looking at ‘redevelopment’ of depots? Everyone knows what happened to Kurla and Mahim depots. Did BEST get any benefit? It is an unfair move and I don’t know why the government is insisting on this,” A V Shenoy of the Mumbai Vikas Samiti and Mumbai Mobility Forum said.
“The redevelopment, particularly of Bandra West station bus depot, will be a total disaster. It will worsen congestion in an already heavily congested area. Lucky Junction is a nightmare, just a few feet from the bus depot. The road to the junction is very narrow. Construction of a high-rise here will multiply traffic woes and the new building will generate so much car traffic,” Aamchi Mumbai Aamchi BEST convener Vidyadhar Date said.
Rohit Dhende of Bus for Us Foundation said, “A similar idea had been floated by former transport minister Diwakar Rawate, who conceptualised a theatre troupe, but it never came to fruition. Apart from generating ticket sales, BEST's should initiate steps forward in creating other resources. The idea is certainly interesting, but whether such a concept will come to fruition soon remains to be seen.”
According to transport expert Aditya Rane, while the chief minister’s initiative to explore non-farebox revenue through commercial development is welcome, Mumbai's immediate priority should be to expand BEST’s bus fleet. “Today, BEST operates only 2800 buses—a sharp fall from the 4800 buses it had a decade ago. Given the city's growing population and demand, Mumbai urgently requires a fleet of at least 10,000 buses. Instead of isolated measures, the focus should be on funding the procurement of at least 2000 new buses each year, supported by viability gap funding (VGF) from the BMC,” he said.
More funding needed
Rane added, “It is deeply concerning that while BMC is spending Rs 5000 crore on the Coastal Road—a project that will primarily benefit only 4 per cent of car users—it allocates merely Rs 1000 crore to BEST, which serves 35 lakh citizens daily. The annual budget for BEST needs to increase to at least R2500 crore if the city truly wants a robust, reliable public transport system. While generating non-farebox revenue through commercial development is a good move, it’s important to note that historically, such initiatives have never contributed more than 10 per cent of revenue for State Transport Undertakings (STUs). A few years ago, MSRTC had similarly proposed developing mini-theatres for Marathi cinema at bus stations. However, most of those bus stations haven’t even been redeveloped, let alone seen cinemas take shape. Rather than focusing narrowly on cinema halls, the government must first conduct thorough land-use and commercial feasibility studies.”
Support for decision
Speaking in favour of the decision, bus enthusiast Shubham Padave said, “I support this decision. All this will only increase revenue of the undertaking and even power customers will increase. In addition to the five depots, the BEST should also add Seepz bus stand and Hiranandani Powai to the list. The Seepz bus depot had been non-operational due to Metro work, but the land is in a prime area and will fetch good revenue. Hiranandani is a very big bus station near Powai, but only three routes (359M, 418 and 602) operate from there. The rest of the space is not being utilised. If BEST develops revenue sources, its dependency on BMC
will end.”
Meanwhile, activist Anil Galgali said, “It is a good thing that Marathi cinemas are being built at five BEST depots to boost the economy. But earlier, private builders benefited from the redevelopment of BEST depots, and no inquiry has been made about them to date. Similarly, there was a similar idea when Rangsharda was built on government land in Bandra West, but now it is a hotel business. Sharda Cinema of Mumbai Marathi Granth Sangrahalaya has been permanently closed. Considering such examples, a proper study should be done before such a plan is made.”
Possible solution
According to Rane, a better approach would be for the Urban Development Department to introduce a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) policy for bus depots and terminals. By allowing higher FSI (up to 4.0) at high-footfall locations—similar to Metro stations—and using the FSI premium to cross-subsidise STUs like BEST and MSRTC, we can create a sustainable model for both transport and urban development. Mumbai deserves a public transport-first vision—not just theatres at depots.
‘Unfair move’
A V Shenoy, Mumbai Mobility Forum
‘The government could raise Rs 18,000 crore for the Coastal Road. For BEST, why is it looking at ‘redevelopment’ of depots? It is an unfair move and I don’t know why the government is insisting on this’
Vidyadhar Date, convener, Aamchi Mumbai Aamchi BEST
‘The redevelopment, particularly of Bandra West station bus depot, will be a total disaster. It will worsen congestion in an already heavily congested area’
Rohit Dhende, Bus for Us Foundation
‘The idea is certainly interesting, but whether such a concept will come to fruition soon remains to be seen’
Aditya Rane, transport expert
‘It is deeply concerning that while BMC is spending R5000 crore on the Coastal Road—a project that will primarily benefit only 4 per cent car users—it allocates merely R1000 crore to BEST, which serves 35 lakh citizens daily’
Shubham Padave, bus enthusiast
‘I support this decision. All this will only increase revenue of the undertaking and even power customers will increase’
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