BEST inducts 17 new electric buses, many deployed on new Coastal Road route

Written by Naresh S

Mumbai | September 7, 2025 08:07 PM IST

The buses, manufactured by Nagpur-based Mumbadevi Mobility Private Limited under the PMI brand, will be operated from the Oshiwara depot in the western suburbs. (File Photo)

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking added 17 new 12-metre electric buses to its fleet on Sunday, with several being deployed on a newly launched route via the city’s Coastal Road.

The buses, manufactured by Nagpur-based Mumbadevi Mobility Private Limited under the PMI brand, will be operated from the Oshiwara depot in the western suburbs. The induction was formally inaugurated on Saturday at the Colaba depot by IAS officer Asheesh Sharma, who currently holds additional charge as the general manager of BEST.

The service operates between Oshiwara depot in western suburbs and Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherji Chowk (Museum) in South Mumbai, covering important stops including Churchgate, Worli, Mahim, Andheri and Santacruz. Buses on this route run every 40 to 45 minutes, seven days a week, with the first departure from Oshiwara at 7.15 am and the last at 5.20 pm; from the Museum, the first bus departs at 8.50 am and the last at 7.15 pm.

“This route will operate with the new PMI electric buses and halt at four newly created stops on the Coastal Road,” said a BEST spokesperson.

The newly inducted buses are equipped with several commuter-friendly features including a public address system, mobile and laptop charging points, and wider space for passenger convenience.

With the latest additions, BEST’s total fleet size has risen to 2,711 vehicles. Of these, 2,293 buses are hired under contractual arrangements, with 1,225 running on CNG and 1,068 on electric power. At present, more than 1,000 electric buses, including 50 electric double-deckers, form part of the fleet. All of them are operated on a wet lease model, under which the contractor provides fuel, drivers and maintenance.

In 2023, BEST had floated a tender for the procurement of 250 electric buses as part of Mumbai’s fleet electrification programme. Deliveries of the PMI buses began in May this year, and over 50 were supplied by the operator by August. However, officials said several of them remained idle for weeks due to the unavailability of charging infrastructure at depots.

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The latest induction and the Coastal Road launch are seen as steps to expand the use of electric buses for long-haul and inter-suburb connectivity. Officials said the new route via the Coastal Road is expected to reduce travel time between the western suburbs and South Mumbai, while also offering a more comfortable commuting option.

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