MUMBAI: Nearly 18% of BEST bus routes have been scrapped over the past five years because of ‘poor occupancy’; they have been ferrying lower than 30% commuters day-to-day. The bus fleet size also lowered by means of 21% throughout the length, newest statistics launched by means of the dept show.
The selection of bus routes also lowered from 500 in 2013-14 to 412 routes lately while the selection of buses dropped from four,200 to 3,300 buses.
While BEST management justified the move by means of calling it a ‘cost-cutting’ measure to support the shipping body’s monetary health, mavens identified that the bus endeavor used to be ‘duty-bound’ to supply services to each corner and nook of town.
“In the name of cost-cutting, BEST has scrapped massive selection of routes,” said shipping analyst Hussain Indorewala. “BEST is a public provider and not a benefit undertaking. Even if there is extraordinarily low ridership, the purpose of public shipping system is to supply connectivity to any house inhabited. They must repair all scrapped routes,’’ he said.
BEST committee member and BMC opposition chief Ravi Raja said the decline in fleet size has also hit the frequency of buses. “Due to scarcity of buses, commuters have to wait for so long as 30 minutes at a stop for a bus to reach,’’ he said.
A BEST legitimate said that the endeavor deliberate to introduce smaller buses —mini and midi buses— particularly on feeder routes. “This will build up our fleet strength within the coming months,” he confident.
“These buses can be cost efficient as they are on rainy rent, this means that zero upkeep costs and no capital expenditure/gas costs. Also, we can compete with percentage vehicles/ taxis on feeder routes,” he said.
Sources said just lately on over 20 bus routes, the services have been stopped throughout non-peak hours because of low turnout. An legitimate from the shipping wing said, “We have curtailed services on those routes, but the similar buses had been deployed on busy routes. So, while we're depriving a section of commuters where buses aren't in call for, we're providing more buses where commuters are in greater numbers, particularly office-going routes.”
Indorewala demanded that the BMC totally subsidise bus shipping within the city so that every one routes will also be operated, and one must not have a look at BEST as a ‘benefit making model’.
The selection of bus routes also lowered from 500 in 2013-14 to 412 routes lately while the selection of buses dropped from four,200 to 3,300 buses.
While BEST management justified the move by means of calling it a ‘cost-cutting’ measure to support the shipping body’s monetary health, mavens identified that the bus endeavor used to be ‘duty-bound’ to supply services to each corner and nook of town.
“In the name of cost-cutting, BEST has scrapped massive selection of routes,” said shipping analyst Hussain Indorewala. “BEST is a public provider and not a benefit undertaking. Even if there is extraordinarily low ridership, the purpose of public shipping system is to supply connectivity to any house inhabited. They must repair all scrapped routes,’’ he said.
BEST committee member and BMC opposition chief Ravi Raja said the decline in fleet size has also hit the frequency of buses. “Due to scarcity of buses, commuters have to wait for so long as 30 minutes at a stop for a bus to reach,’’ he said.
A BEST legitimate said that the endeavor deliberate to introduce smaller buses —mini and midi buses— particularly on feeder routes. “This will build up our fleet strength within the coming months,” he confident.
“These buses can be cost efficient as they are on rainy rent, this means that zero upkeep costs and no capital expenditure/gas costs. Also, we can compete with percentage vehicles/ taxis on feeder routes,” he said.
Sources said just lately on over 20 bus routes, the services have been stopped throughout non-peak hours because of low turnout. An legitimate from the shipping wing said, “We have curtailed services on those routes, but the similar buses had been deployed on busy routes. So, while we're depriving a section of commuters where buses aren't in call for, we're providing more buses where commuters are in greater numbers, particularly office-going routes.”
Indorewala demanded that the BMC totally subsidise bus shipping within the city so that every one routes will also be operated, and one must not have a look at BEST as a ‘benefit making model’.
900 BEST buses taken off roads in five years
![900 BEST buses taken off roads in five years]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
May 03, 2018
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