In Mumbai: BEST to lure commuters, tourists to offset daily loss

Mumbai city news: The BEST, the second largest mass transport system in Mumbai after the suburban trains, is facing its worst financial crisis owing to the plummetting passenger footfall

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) authorities have approached Central and Western Railway officials to shortlist railway stations with highest commuter footfall.

Besides offering transport service, the BEST intends to explain tourists its importance and history. (HT file)

This is being done to lure passengers during the peak hours be re-scheduling its buses and increases services on feeder routes. The BEST officials are also trying make tourists use bus services. Besides offering transport service, the BEST intends to explain tourists its importance and history.

The BEST, the second largest mass transport system in Mumbai after the suburban trains, is facing its worst financial crisis owing to the plummetting passenger footfall.

The BEST administration, which is incurring heavy losses daily, believes that it will be able to increase its revenue by offering commuter-friendly services to Mumbaiites and tourists alike. Sources said service at stations such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Mumbai Central, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Dadar and Churchgate are likely to increase as these stations see highest footfall of commuters and tourists daily.

“Methods for increasing passenger footfall are being constantly probed. Getting passengers to travel by buses during peak hours and luring tourists are a few of the measures we are considering,”said a BEST official.

Loud and cheaper

On Sundays, bus conductors use loudspeakers to promote BEST services and inform people how cheap the services are in comparison to share cabs. Officials claimed the marketing strategy is working and it has witnessed a slight increase in passenger footfall at CSMT and Churchgate stations.