Mumbai: BEST charts transport overhaul with the new regular incoming fleet

BEST will be procuring more buses. FILE PIC/ SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI

The BEST undertaking is on the verge of a turnaround. With a slow, steady, yet assured delivery schedule of around 100 buses per month from various manufacturers as per the revised timeline, the undertaking is gradually regaining its foothold among commuters. Targeting shared autos and last-mile connectivity, BEST is also working to optimise its services and is planning to experiment with dynamic fares.

"We should be able to raise or lower fares based on changing conditions. We are working on it. An elaborate plan has been prepared to pull BEST out of its loss-making phase and restore it to its former glory. For the first time, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis personally held a review meeting solely focused on the undertaking. That shows the seriousness of the government," said BEST GM SVR Srinivas. "The BMC has been asked to provide a fixed annual capex funding to keep the works going," he added.

The BEST bus that will run on Route No.1

"We are in mission mode and acquiring more buses. There had been a shortage of conductors, which we have addressed since June 2025," he said. Srinivas, who also played a key role in commissioning Metro Yellow Line 2B and Red Line 7, said that BEST buses will need to complement the Metro and provide last-mile connectivity. "We are procuring more midi and mini buses that can navigate narrow lanes and hilly terrains like those in Vikhroli. We are reorganising the entire route structure to rationalise it - diverting or reducing buses as per need," he added.

"Another idea is to bring all public transport buses in the MMR under a single authority for seamless operations. The townships surrounding Mumbai have smaller bus fleets and can focus on local needs, acting as feeder services to the main BEST trunk routes," Srinivas explained. "I'm taking the idea a step further and have suggested that infrastructure like fuel pumps and charging facilities should also be pooled, just like buses, so that all buses can use them," he added.

Route 1 back on bus birthday

The BEST undertaking on Tuesday restarted Bus Route No. 1 from Colaba depot. The route, which operates between Electric House and Bandra Reclamation Bus Stand, will now run as Route A-1. The service was flagged off by BEST General Manager, SVR Srinivas, at 9.30 am at the Colaba depot.