Maharashtra: Mumbai’s BEST Bus services hit as 657 vehicles deployed for election duty
According to BEST officials, the allocation was made following a requisition by the Election Authority through the Regional Transport Office (RTO).
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BEST relies on the wet-lease model to cope with the growing demand for public transport in Mumbai.Commuters in Mumbai faced disruptions in public transport on Tuesday as the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) allocated 657 buses for election duty, ahead of the state assembly polls. This move left a reduced fleet in operation, causing inconvenience for daily travellers across the city.
According to BEST officials, the allocation was made following a requisition by the Election Authority through the Regional Transport Office (RTO). Of the 657 buses, 230 are 42-seater single-deckers, and 427 are 30-seater mini-buses.
Additionally, 35 wheelchair-accessible electric buses equipped with automatic ramps have been provided for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. These buses will operate on designated routes in each assembly constituency on Wednesday, the election day.
BEST has also been tasked with supporting the police force’s mobility during the election phase. Between 140 and 160 buses have been earmarked for police and special forces’ transport needs, with 28 buses already deployed since October 14.
Of the 2,807 buses in BEST’s fleet, including its wet lease arrangements, 2,150 buses remained operational, excluding the 657 assigned for election-related duties. The operational buses included 351 non-AC units -230 single-decker and 121 mini buses – and 306 AC mini-buses.
The reduction in available buses led to widespread inconvenience for commuters, especially as BEST did not issue prior notifications about the service disruptions. Many passengers complained of longer wait times and overcrowding on the remaining buses, causing frustration and delays on their commute.
The suburban services were hit more as compared to the city fleet, especially in the western suburbs. The timing of the disruptions, coinciding with the last working day before polling day, added on to the challenges faced by public bus commuters. They have urged BEST to improve communication and plan better to mitigate such disruptions in the future.
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