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Mumbai hops on to AC buses to escape the maddening heat

Updated on: 04 April,2009 08:40 AM IST |
Vedika Tripathi |

More commuters are shunning overcrowded BEST buses and trains as the mercury rises in the city; don't mind paying more for a comfortable journey

More commuters are shunning overcrowded BEST buses and trains as the mercury rises in the city; don't mind paying more for a comfortable journey

With the temperature in the city hovering around the 40u00b0 Celsius mark during the last week, hassled

Mumbaikars are opting for different means of travel to beat the heat. Instead of traveling like sardines in trains and BEST buses, people prefer the comforts of King Long and air-conditioned buses. They don't mind spending more (see box) to get respite from the sweltering heat.

Approximately 19,000 passengers travel by the 40 AC and 70 King Long buses plying on Mumbai's roads every day. However, since last week, that number has increased to 21,000 passengers. A S Tamboli, PRO, BEST, said, "There has been a sudden increase in the number of passengers. People are opting for AC buses to beat the rising mercury."

Vikas Singh who commutes between Borivli and Thane by an AC bus said, "There was breathing space earlier, but now, these buses are jam-packed. In fact, on Thursday, the conductor had to ask people to stop boarding the bus." K R Sreenath who travels from Thane to Nariman Point explained, "The buses are overcrowded because people want respite from the heat. People are opting for AC buses even for shorter routes."

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