The air-conditioned buses operated by BEST undertaking are cold comfort for passengers and are burning a yawning hole into the administration’s coffers. Over the last four years, maintenance issues with the Cerita buses which have grown to 282 in number have been rising steadily. The vehicles suffered 1,202 breakdowns in 2012-13 (till October last year), compared to 638 in 2009-10.

The BEST has 282 Cerita AC buses, two Ashok Leyland and six Volvo buses in its air conditioned fleet. The Volvo buses are yet to be fully inducted. Representation pic