In Mumbai: Soon, electric bus routes to Bandra-Kurla Complex

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will soon start operating hybrid and electric buses in Bandra-Kurla Complex by the end of January

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will soon start operating hybrid and electric buses in Bandra-Kurla Complex by the end of January.

The Wifi-enabled buses, operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), will come as a relief to commuters in the busy complex. (HT File Photo)

The Wifi-enabled buses, operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), will come as a relief to commuters in the busy complex.

Despite being the fastest-growing business hub in the city, BKC is not well-connected by public transport. MMRDA had earlier planned to start the bus service in December, but have not delivered so far.

These buses will shuttle between Bandra, Kurla and Sion suburban railway stations from BKC .

“We expect to get the buses by January. Once we get around five to seven buses, we will start the service on three routes that we have planned,” said Pravin Darade, additional metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA. These buses will ply in dedicated bus lanes at the complex.”

Darade added that MMRDA expects the entire fleet to be handed over by February.

Purchased from M/s Tata Motors Limited, each bus costing Rs1.61 crore, is an air-conditioned 32-seater electric/hybrid series bus. Although the plan to have eco-friendly buses in BKC was conceived in early 2013, it was delayed by three years owing to issues with the overall structure of the plan, operations and maintenance.

The buses have been purchased under the initiative taken by MMRDA to promote clean fuel, and supported by the policy, FAME 2015, which is about promoting electric transport under National Electric Mobility Mission 2020.

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