BEST uses slates to display bus numbers, routes

The conventional chalk-slate system has replaced the electronic digital boards in buses to display bus number and route.

The conventional chalk-slate system has replaced the electronic digital boards in buses to display bus number and route.

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This is being done as the electronic display boards are either switched off or are not working.

Most of the route indicators on the new buses bought under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) are made of glowing Light Emitting Diode (LEDs).

At times, bus conductors try to write the route numbers with chalk, but most of them are too faint and illegible.

But now, the conductors have once again started placing a layer of matt finished slate like material on which the bus numbers and routes are written.

In case, the electronic display boards aren’t functioning, then they write the number with the chalk.

“Passengers hardly get anytime to see the bus number especially during peak hours. The BEST officials informed us that there was some problem with the LED display lights that is being corrected,” said AV Shenoy, member, Mumbai Vikas Samiti.

BEST said that there were around 850 buses with LED indicators, of which 150 were non-functional and that they were trying to work on the problem.

BEST Committee member Ravi Raja said, “This is a serious issue and the administrative needs to resolve the problem immediately.”