Mumbai: All those dreaming of bus fares coming down soon, beware, it is a distant dream. The proposed fare reduction by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) is likely to be deferred by a year. Although the proposal was tabled at the BEST committee meeting on Friday, it was not considered and sent back for review. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had stipulated that only if the BEST would buy new buses, would its budget be merged with that of the BMC and this was one of the reasons for the proposal being reviewed.
Hidden politics was also at play. The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) committee members raised questions and objections, forcing the committee members to send back the proposal for want of details. It appears, the BJP does not want to give credit to the Shiv Sena-ruled BEST and BMC for taking this landmark decision just before the assembly elections.
The proposal was for a reduction in the minimum fare, from the current Rs 8 to Rs 5 for up to five kilometres; for 10 kilometres, the fare suggested was Rs 10, for 15 kilometres Rs 15 and for over 15 kilometres a fixed fare of Rs 20.
BJP corporator Sunil Ganacharya said, "The authorities need to organise a fleet of 7,000 buses, which needs planning. By reducing the fares, the undertaking will incur losses, so first bring in the buses, hire new staff and then reduce the fares." Ganacharya demanded a detailed presentation of the undertaking's plans and asked chairman Anil Patankar to hold back the proposal until then.
Currently, only 2,900 of the BEST's fleet of 3,337 buses are in working condition. Ganacharya pointed out, even when the BEST had over 4,000 buses, it did not have enough parking spots. "Where are you going to park 7,000 buses? Reducing fares before buying the buses will only add to BEST losses," pointed out Ganacharya.
The administration had asked the BEST committee members to give their answers and suggestions in writing. Another BJP member, Nana Ambole, expressing anguish, demanded a special meeting on this issue. BEST Committee Chairman Anil Patankar said, "The administration has decided to reconsider the proposal.”
