BEST to start night bus services from Madh Island, Filmcity

Come July, the undertaking will be launching new services, which will leave at 2.30 am from Madh Island and Filmcity Studios in Goregaon, where many film shoots take place. The buses will go up to Dadar TT and halt at all possible stops. The decision was taken two months after a proposal was submitted by the organisation Shiv Sena Chitrapat to BEST. It is expected to help hundreds of people.

Safe at last: The decision will help those who leave the movie sets late at night. File pic

Aadesh Bandekar, president of Shivsena Chitrapat, said, "Most shootings takes place at these two locations and this will benefit people who cannot afford to travel by taxi at night. The staff that leaves after pack-up at night will be helped most. Even women can feel safe and avail of these new BEST services."

"This is going to be a special service at night for those who work in the film industry. It will benefit hundreds of people who cannot afford to travel by taxi," said a BEST official who did not want to be named.

Darshana Namdev, who works as a hairdresser in Filmcity, said that they have been anxious ever since they heard of leopards in the area. "We have heard that leopards walk in these areas and we are really scared to get out at night. A lot of people like me will be benefited," she said. BEST runs approximately 4,000 buses and carries around 40 lakh passengers per day on its 287 routes.

Manoj Varade, deputy PRO, BEST, said, "We are starting these two services from the month of July but the dates are yet to be finalised."u00a0