Multi-agency push needed to fix Mumbai's last-mile connectivity: Former BEST official

The final leg of a commuter’s journey often determines whether they choose public transport or private vehicles, an official said. File Pic

Improving last-mile connectivity in Mumbai cannot be achieved by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) alone and requires coordinated action from multiple transport and civic agencies, a former BEST official said on Wednesday.

Shrinivas Rao Arragunta, former Deputy General Manager (Transportation Engineering), BEST, said the final leg of a commuter's journey often determines whether they choose public transport or private vehicles.

He explained that for many office-goers, the journey does not end when they get off a train or metro, but continues for another one to three kilometres until they reach their workplace.

He said this short distance often involves long waits for overcrowded buses, negotiations with autorickshaw drivers, or walking on unsafe footpaths, especially at night.

"A commuter may reach BKC on time but still arrive at work stressed and uncomfortable because the last mile fails them," he said in a social media post.

BEST alone cannot solve the problem

The now retired official stressed that BEST buses can play a key role, particularly in business hubs like Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), by acting as a structured transport backbone for short-distance travel.

However, he said this can only work if supported by high-frequency services aligned with railway and metro schedules, clearly marked stops, real-time passenger information, and dedicated planning for peak-hour demand.

He added that no single agency can address these issues alone and called for coordinated planning between the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), Indian Railways, metro authorities, traffic police, and civic bodies.

He also highlighted the need for protected bus stops, proper layover spaces, and traffic systems that give priority to buses during peak hours.

Smarter planning needed for demand patterns

Arragunta noted that passenger demand in Mumbai is uneven, with sharp peaks during rush hours and lower usage during the rest of the day.

He said this requires smarter planning of fleet deployment and crew management, rather than simply increasing the number of buses.

He added that if the system is improved effectively, more commuters would choose public transport not out of compulsion, but because it is convenient and reliable.