Shelters for 1,507 bus stops

To protect commuters from the rains, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) has decided to build shelters for all uncovered bus stops.

To protect commuters from the rains, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) has decided to build shelters for all uncovered bus stops.

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The BEST committee took this decision at its meeting on Friday. BEST will also review the scheme in which private agencies were asked to build shelters at bus stops in exchange for advertising rights.

In 2007, the BEST had tied up with private agencies to build new steel-bodied bus stops under the first finder scheme.

Under the scheme’s aegis, the old bus stops were replaced with steel-bodied shelters by private agencies.

There are currently 2,781 new bus shelters established under the scheme and 951 steel bus queues.

Out of 2,024 old bus stops, 1,830 have been renovated to steel bus shelters. There are still 1,507 old structures that have not been replaced.

“There are irregularities in the scheme. Many bus stops were left open though the agencies were expected to cover them before the monsoon. We need to inquire into this,” said Sanjay Potnis, BEST committee member.

OP Gupta, general manager of the BEST, assured that an investigation will be conducted and all agencies concerned will be pressured to provide adequate bus shelters.