Ahead of fleet expansion, BEST plans multi-storeyed parking lots at depots

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking plans to set up multi-storeyed parking lots in its depots to accommodate its increasing fleet of buses. BEST aims to run 10,000 electric buses by 2027 and is conducting a feasibility study for parking lots at three depots. The current parking capacity is for 3,941 buses, and the new parking lots would almost double the capacity. BEST has already placed orders for 2,100 single-decker AC e-buses and called tenders for another 2,400.

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking is contemplating setting up multi-storeyed parking lots inside its depots as it plans to add more than 4,500 buses in the next two years. Three depots - Dindoshi, Bandra and Deonar - have been shortlisted and a feasibility study is currently underway, people aware of the matter said.

New Delhi: A red non-AC double-decker bus of Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST), parked at a depot, in Mumbai, Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. The iconic buses, which have been an integral part of the city's public transport system for more than eight decades, will go off the streets from Friday. (PTI Photo)(PTI09_15_2023_000234A) (PTI)

With the undertaking planning to run 10,000 electric buses by 2027, BEST officials said multi-storeyed parking lots would offer a solution since the existing smaller depots could not accommodate more buses and there was no space to build new depots.

BEST has appointed International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank group, to conduct a detailed study on the available floor space index at these three depots, and the feasibility, revenue models and other parameters for constructing such parking areas, a senior official said. “The idea is to ensure additional space for our fleet as we intend to increase it in the next few years.”

Sources said the maximum parking capacity inside their 27 depots is for 3,941 buses. The satellite parking lots at bus stands, outside railway stations, and residential and commercial hubs can accommodate 511 buses. The three bus depots that have been identified can hold more than 475 buses and these multi-storeyed parking lots will almost double the capacity.

To increase the fleet to 10,000 electric buses, BEST has placed orders for 2,100 single-decker AC e-buses and called tenders for another 2,400 while 900 AC double-decker e-buses are in the pipeline.

Currently, BEST’s fleet is at its lowest at 2,968 buses catering to around 31 lakh people every day. A decade ago, around 4,700 buses would ferry 45-47 lakh people daily.