BEST buses to get elevated parking space
The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) are looking at alternate options including creating an elevated space inside bus depots to park their 4,685-strong bus fleet.
The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) are looking at alternate options including creating an elevated space inside bus depots to park their 4,685-strong bus fleet.
This is because the present bus depots have been filled beyond capacity.
Of the 25 depots in the city, each depot, on an average, can accommodate not more than 150 buses. However there are several depots where the capacity has exceeded 200 BEST buses.
“We are looking at using modern technology to create parking space for buses. Elevated parking is an option which can be looked into,” said BEST general manager, OP Gupta.
The latest figures compiled by BEST shows that Anik depot houses 228 buses, Ghatkopar has 260 buses parked; Dharavi has 221 buses.
The BEST has been contemplating two new depots near Goregaon and Antop Hill but without much success because it is still struggling to get permissions from the civic body.
BEST is also looking at developing parking space near bus stations, which are outside railway stations and bus depots.
Sources in BEST said the administration should have simultaneously arranged for depots as and when they were asked to increase the fleet. Moreover, the sources said BEST is spending energy and time on leasing part of the BEST depots for commercial use.
“A few depots are being leased partly for commercial use,” said a BEST official on condition of anonymity, as he is not authorised to speak to the media. They have already begun partly leasing the bus depots at Versova.