Mumbai: Students’ BEST pass cost to double from this academic year

Ten lakh students from across Mumbai who use the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus service will have to pay twice the amount for a pass from this academic year.

Ten lakh students from across Mumbai who use the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus service will have to pay twice the amount for a pass from this academic year.

The BEST had two fare revisions this year -- first on February 1 and the other on April 1.

After the April fare revision, the tariff for school bus passes almost doubled. Committee members had then requested the administration to withdraw the fare hike imposed on school students.

Kedar Hombalkar, BEST committee member said, “We have been repeatedly requesting BEST administration to withdraw the fare hike imposed on school bus passes and school bus fees.”

“That will add burden to the parents as well as act as a discouragement for sending students to school,” he said.

However, on Thursday, the administration said they would not be able to withdraw the hike as it would have an adverse effect on the undertaking’s 2015-16 financial budget.

The private school bus fees beyond 10km within BMC limits has been doubled from Rs 1,700 to Rs 3,400

Even the half yearly student bus pass up to Class 12 has been increased to Rs 2,500 from Rs 1,500.