Mumbai rain: BEST services on 34 routes hit amid waterlogging

“Due to heavy rains and severe waterlogging at multiple locations, several bus routes have been diverted, curtailed, or cancelled in the interest of public safety. All efforts are being made to reroute buses via available roads and keep the public informed,” the BEST official spokesperson said.

The earliest disruptions occurred at Shell Colony, Anik depot, beginning at 6 am, where routes 360, 355 and 357 were diverted via Chembur Naka. By 6.20 am, commuters in Wadala saw route changes at B A Road in Hindmata as buses 368 and C40 were rerouted through Bhoiwada. R A Kidwai Road, Kalakilla depot, and Gandhi Market also reported major bus diversions early in the morning. Buses on the 66, A92, A351 and 368 routes were sent via Bhau Daji Road.

Flooded points at Andheri, Malad, Oshiwara, Jagnath Bhaktar Marg, Mira Road and LBS Marg-Kamani in Kurla forced suspensions and detours that impacted Andheri residents as well as those in downtown Mumbai.

In Andheri, Aarey Colony Unit No 22, and Oshiwara Bridge saw many bus services along the 205, 506, 508, 432 and 460 routes being diverted.

Commuters in south Mumbai, especially Colaba and Churchgate, were severely affected by curtailments at Sion Hospital and Mahalaxmi Bridge, and many bus services were stopped at Byculla Bus Stand and Prabhadevi New Link Road.

Rakesh Patil, a 32-year-old IT professional in Andheri, was among the hundreds of commuters inconvenienced on Tuesday. “My regular morning commute from Andheri was badly affected today because the buses from Aarey Colony and Oshiwara Bridge were diverted due to waterlogging,” Patil said.

“I waited at Unit No 22 for nearly an hour and finally had to walk to the Metro station as there were no direct buses. It made me very late to reach my office in Lower Parel,” he added.

The BEST has advised commuters to monitor updates and plan travel in advance as further changes could occur due to ongoing weather fluctuations.