BEST is in a phase of transition and several out-of-the-box, never-tried-before ideas to optimise resources, including setting up Amazon and Flipkart pick up points, leasing out retail space at depots, a bus banking experiment, roping in call centres, corporates, reviving tourist circuit buses and a digital ticketing app to be ready by the new year, should revolutionise the public transporter.

In his first exclusive tete-a-tete with mid-day, BEST’s General Manager Lokesh Chandra said the Undertaking has just embarked on a journey of “absolute green energy buses”, route rationalisation and is also addressing a host of other issues systematically. Chandra said the BEST, as of today, has a fleet of 386 electric buses, which is India’s largest among public transporters. On limitations, he said that only four depots have charging points, and that they are trying their best to accommodate demands for more routes.