Mumbai’s new white BEST buses to ply on Bandra-BKC and CST-Gateway routes from today
The non-AC bus will be operated on route number 111, and AC bus on Bandra-BKC circular route.
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) is all set to ply its newly-painted white-and-yellow AC and non-AC buses on two routes starting today, in order to gauge passenger feedback on the new colour scheme, said a BEST official.
The buses will ply on the Bandra-BKC and CST-Gateway of India routes.The non-AC bus will be operated on route number 111, and AC bus on Bandra-BKC circular route.
BEST has proposed to change the colour of its iconic red-and-white buses in an attempt to attract more customers. It painted two single-decker buses — one AC and one non-AC — white and yellow, after suggestions from a team of students from JJ Institute of Applied Arts.
The undertaking plans to operate these buses on the two routes till the end of April, appealing to the passengers to send in their feedback and suggestions about the new colours to probestundertaking@gmail.com
Meanwhile, 15 of BEST’s newly-bought 303 buses are also on the road now. According to BEST, the buses are plying on four routes — special 2 (CST-World Trade Centre), special 8 (Churchgate-World Trade Centre) , special 9 (Churchgate ring route) and 108 (CST to Kamala Nehru park).
The buses will have a centralised roof-mounted ventilation system, clutch-free automatic transmission, and on-board laptop or mobile charging points for passengers.
According to BEST administration, each bus costs around Rs55 lakh and the undertaking has already acquired 25% of the total number. “Of the 303 buses, we have received 75 buses and the remaining will reach us soon,” said Hanumant Gophane, public relations officer, BEST.
BEST is the second largest mode of mass transport after the suburban trains, which ferries 75 lakh commuters daily. BEST buses provide feeder service to the railway network, and also contribute to the city’s connectivity, with a fleet of 3800 buses in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Mira-Bhayander.