MH-BEST-BUS-FARE

BEST committee decides to reduce bus fares to boost ridership
    Mumbai, Jun 25 (PTI) The civic-run Brihanmumbai
Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking Tuesday
decided to reduce bus fares in the metropolis to boost
ridership and income.
    As per the decision taken at the Undertaking's Special
Committee meeting, the minimum non-AC bus fare has been
reduced from Rs 8 to Rs 5 for the first five kilometres, while
maximum fare for this class has been capped at Rs 20.
    The minimum AC bus fare has been brought down from Rs
20 to Rs 6 and maximum fare has been kept at Rs 25.
    Once implemented, the fare slab for non-AC (regular)
buses will be Rs 5, 10, 15 and Rs 20, while it will be Rs 6,
13, 19 and Rs 25 for air-conditioned buses, an official said.
    "Now the proposal will be sent to BMC and the Mumbai
Metropolitan Regional Transport Authority (MMRTA) for final
approval. The date of implementation of these reduced fares
will be notified later," the BEST official said.
    "With this move, we hope to attract larger numbers of
passengers who otherwise are moving over to cab aggregators.
We also intend to introduce measures as part of Mumbai's
revamp under the Smart City initiative," he said.
    BEST, with a fleet of 3,337 buses, including 120
double- deckers, has so far failed to recover even its cost of
operation, and its ridership over the years has fallen from 45
lakh a day to 27 lakh.
    It operates 483 routes in Mumbai, Thane and Navi
Mumbai and its daily loss is estimated at around Rs 2 crore.
    'Amchi Mumbai - Amchi Best', a forum of transport
experts, welcomed the move but with a note of caution.
    Forum co-convener Hussain Indorewala said, "We agree
with fare reduction, but it has to be complemented by other
measures like dedicated bus lane on all arterial roads to
ensure buses get priority."
    "In addition to this, commuters should be concerned
about contractor-run buses because it is uncertain whether
these buses are safe or reliable," he added.
    Senior BEST Committee member Ravi Raja also hailed the
decision, but reminded the administration that it is going to
make an annual loss of Rs 125 crore due to fare reduction.
    "I hope BEST has a plan to help itself financially. It
must take measures to ensure buses are run efficiently on all
the routes, and closed ones are revived," Raja said.
    After the decision, Yuva Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray
visited the BEST headquarters in south Mumbai and said the
move was not taken because the Maharashtra legislature is in
session.
    "If this was the case, then we would have taken this
decision before Lok Sabha elections. This decision has been
taken for last mile connectivity and a comfortable journey,"
Thackeray claimed. PTI APM
BNM BNM

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from a PTI feed.)