Duck Bus not to ply in south Mumbai

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking’s grand plan to run Duck Bus services in south Mumbai failed to get permission from the marine department.

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking’s grand plan to run Duck Bus services in south Mumbai failed to get permission from the marine department.

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In August, the BEST Committee cleared the proposal to start the amphibious bus services in the city to promote tourism.

The BEST has now suggested a new route from Bandra-Worli sealink, Mahim creek up to Girgaum Chowpatty and back. The undertaking had earlier planned to run one 49-seater bus on an experimental basis in south Mumbai (for 40 minutes) and cruise from Gateway of India till Radio Club in Colaba (20 minutes) and back at a cost of around Rs 100-Rs 150 per person per trip.

The speed of the bus would be nearly 50 kmph on road and 10 kmph in water.

“We didn’t get permission from marine department and so the routes have been changed. But nothing can beat the Gateway of India, which is an eternal tourist attraction,” said BEST chairman, Dilip Patel.

BEST then tied up with a city-based private firm to introduce the vehicle that can ply both on road and sea.

The private enterprise that will run the Duck Buses services has been asked to study the feasibility of the new route.

The private firm will import these buses from the US at an approximate cost of Rs 1 crore — equivalent to cost of two BEST AC buses — and also maintain the vehicles and bear the expenses of building jetties.