Mumbai: In six months, you can take an eco-friendly shuttle bus to BKC

There is good news for commuters who are often inconvenienced while travelling to the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) owing to errant auto drivers and poor public transport connectivity with nearby railways stations.

There is good news for commuters who are often inconvenienced while travelling to the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) owing to errant auto drivers and poor public transport connectivity with nearby railways stations.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is set to start a shuttle bus service, connecting BKC to railways stations at Sion, Bandra and Kurla in the next six months.

The MRDA will use either fully battery-run (electric) buses or hybrid (electric+diesel) buses under its initiative to encourage green transport in the BKC.

The department of heavy industries (DHI) has assured the MMRDA that it will bear 50% of the project cost, making the shuttle bus service plan feasible.

“We will finalise what kind of buses to be used for the shuttle service soon. Subsequently, we will invite tenders to purchase about 25 buses. We expect the service to start in six months,” said Sanjay Sethi, MMRDA additional commissioner.

While a hybrid bus will cost between Rs 1.75-Rs 2 crore, a fully electric bus will cost a little more, said Sethi.

Despite being the fastest-growing business hub in the city, BKC is not well-connected by public transport.

Although the plan was conceived in early 2013, it was delayed by almost two years owing to issues with overall structure of the plan, and operations and maintenance.

The company, which will provide the buses, will have to look after the maintenance of the buses for a certain period of time.