Mumbai’s railway passenger associations have appealed to Indian Railways to further reduce fares on AC local trains, saying cheaper tickets would encourage more commuters to shift from private vehicles to public transport. They have announced plans to submit a formal memorandum to the Ministry of Railways in the coming weeks, along with ridership and cost benefit proposals. The demand comes in response to the prime minister’s recent push to prioritise mass transit options and reduce congestion and pollution in major cities. Meanwhile, a few others cautioned that there was a need to increase AC services before bringing down fares to avoid overcrowding. 

Declining BEST fleet

As of May 2026, the BEST fleet comprises about 2700 buses, with over 85 per cent being wet-leased from private contractors. BEST, which operates one of the city’s largest public bus networks, has seen its finances deteriorate over the years due to various costs, staff expenditure, and competition from other modes of transport.