BEST fare hike set to kick in from today

Under the new fare system, fares will be applied in 5 km slabs up to 50 km with Rs 5 increase at every slab. For example, in non-AC buses, a 5 km journey will cost Rs 10, a 10 km journey will cost Rs 15, and so on. In AC buses, fares will be between Rs 12 for 5 km and Rs 65 for 50 km. For each 5 km after 50 km, an extra Rs 5 will be charged.

Beginning at Rs 5, the concessional fare for children between 5 and 12 years of age are being reintroduced, which were scrapped in the 2019 fare hike. The senior citizens will still get a discount of Rs 50 on trip-based passes of 60, 90 or 120 trips.

BEST has also launched new unlimited travel passes of Rs 75 for a daily pass and Rs 1,800 for a monthly pass, which are valid on all BEST services except point-to-point, heritage and special routes.

Students of municipal schools in uniform will be able to travel free using CHALO smart cards as before, whereas the free travel facility for the disabled with 40% and above disability shall continue as such. For individuals below 26 years of age studying in private institutions, the subsidised student pass limits continue to remain the same — Rs 200 for 60 trip monthly passes.

To encourage digital payments, BEST is providing users paying through the CHALO app for trip based passes an incentive bonus of 5% additional rides, whereas wallet payment users will get a Rs 5 addition to their credit per Rs 100 deposited.

This fare hike is the first in seven years, when regular bus fares were Rs 8 and AC bus fares Rs 20. In 2019, the then municipal commissioner Praveen Pardeshi reduced the fares to the present Rs 5 and Rs 6, increasing ridership but reducing revenues drastically.

BEST has been running under financial pressure ever since, piling up losses while keeping fares low to attract commuters.

In spite of repeated fare revision proposals by BEST officials, the decision was constantly delayed, mainly due to political considerations and elections. However, with the revenue losses piling up and operation viability in question, officials have now finally moved. BEST General Manager SVR Srinivas was the first to propose this fare revision after his appointment in February this year.

Though the fare increase will sting daily commuters, particularly those who use BEST for short distance travel, the move is being viewed as a long term necessity for the health of the undertaking. With rising fuel, maintenance and staff expenses, BEST officials say fare rationalisation is the best way to ensure improved service and expansion in the future.

BEST has also recently undergone a digital transformation with features such as app-based ticketing and real-time tracking for commuter convenience. Officials say the fare restructuring will now assist in achieving a balance between financial sustainability and commuter satisfaction.