BEST nod to fare reduction

BEST nod to fare reduction

The BEST undertaking has finally approved a proposal for reducing its fares across the city. As per the decision taken at a Special Committee meeting, the minimum non-AC bus fare has been reduced from Rs 8 to Rs 5 for the first five kilometres while the maximum fare for this class has been capped at Rs 20.

Staff ReporterUpdated: Wednesday, June 26, 2019, 08:36 AM IST
article-image

Mumbai: The BEST undertaking has finally approved a proposal for reducing its fares across the city. As per the decision taken at a Special Committee meeting, the minimum non-AC bus fare has been reduced from Rs 8 to Rs 5 for the first five kilometres while the maximum fare for this class has been capped at Rs 20. The minimum AC bus fare has been brought down from Rs 20 to Rs 6 and the maximum fare has been kept at Rs 25. Once implemented, the fare slab for non-AC (regular) buses will be Rs 5, 10, 15 and Rs 20, while it will be Rs 6, 13, 19 and Rs 25 for air-conditioned buses, an official said.

The resolution on reduction of fares was approved by a majority. It is expected to boost volumes and income. BEST General Manager Surendra Kumar Bagade said that the proposal will now be sent to the BMC for approval and then to the regional transport authority. The process will take around a month, after which the new fares will be implemented. The BMC will be providing a grant of Rs 100 crore and according to Yashwant Jadhav, standing committee chairman of the BMC, the merger of the budgets will take place in a year's time.

The BEST has already placed orders for 530 buses which will arrive within six months. With the addition to the capacity, the undertaking would be able to absorb partially the loss on account of reduction in fares. According to BEST Committee member Ravi Raja, the administration will incur an annual loss of Rs 125 crore due to fare reduction. BEST, with a fleet of 3,337 buses, including 120 double-deckers, has so far failed to recover even the cost of operations, and its ridership over the years has fallen from 45 lakh a day to 27 lakh. Yuva Sena leader Aditya Thackeray also visited the BEST headquarters and said that there will be 500 electric buses in the fleet soon; with the inclusion of the new buses, new routes can be explored.

RECENT STORIES

Navi Mumbai: Environmental Activists Write Letter To CM Shinde As 200 Trees In Thane-Belapur Belt To...

Navi Mumbai: Environmental Activists Write Letter To CM Shinde As 200 Trees In Thane-Belapur Belt To...

Mumbai News: MahaRERA Only Real Estate Regulator To Recover ₹ 125 Crore From Developers In 14...

Mumbai News: MahaRERA Only Real Estate Regulator To Recover ₹ 125 Crore From Developers In 14...

Mira- Bhayandar: 9 Municipal And Private Schools Organise Educational Rally Promoting Voting...

Mira- Bhayandar: 9 Municipal And Private Schools Organise Educational Rally Promoting Voting...

Mira- Bhayandar: Notorious Thief Who Broke Into Mobile Shop Robbing High- End Phones; Arrested In...

Mira- Bhayandar: Notorious Thief Who Broke Into Mobile Shop Robbing High- End Phones; Arrested In...

Govinda Joins Shiv Sena: A Lookback At Actor's Political Journey

Govinda Joins Shiv Sena: A Lookback At Actor's Political Journey