Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking is preparing to implement revised bus fares starting May 8, provided that the minutes of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) meeting are signed early this week. According to reports, while an official notification is still awaited, the fare hike proposal was approved during the key MMRTA meeting held on April 30.
"A circular with the revised fare charts and implementation instructions has already been circulated to select traffic division officials," reported the Times of India, quoting a source. However, final implementation is contingent upon the formal signing of the MMRTA meeting minutes.
Details On Fare Hike
As per the proposed hike, the minimum fare for non-AC buses will increase from Rs 5 to Rs 10 for a 5 km distance. AC bus fares will double from Rs 6 to Rs 12 for the same stretch. The fare increase is more substantial over longer distances, for 50 km, the non-AC fare will rise by 200 per cent and the AC fare by 160 per cent.
The weekly and monthly travel passes will also become costlier. A weekly pass will cost Rs 140. Monthly passes for 60, 90, and 120 trips over a 5 km distance are pegged at Rs 500, Rs 800, and Rs 1,100, respectively. Student passes are set at Rs 200 for monthly, Rs 600 for quarterly, and Rs 1,200 for six-month durations. Meanwhile, corporate AC passes will witness a sharp rise, the monthly pass will now cost Rs 1,200 (up from Rs 600), and the quarterly pass will be Rs 3,000 (up from Rs 1,500).
The fare revision is expected to boost BEST’s annual revenue by approximately Rs 590 crore, providing financial relief to the cash-strapped public transport body. However, the move has sparked considerable political and public backlash.
Political Outcry Over BEST Bus Fare Hike
Opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, NCP (SP) and AIMIM, have strongly criticised the decision. They argue that the fare hike imposes an unfair burden on the city's working class and economically vulnerable commuters, many of whom depend on BEST buses for their daily travel. Several political leaders have warned that such a steep hike will worsen the financial strain on Mumbai’s middle-and lower-income residents.
