In some cheer for Mumbaikars, the reduced fares in Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) buses in the city has come into effect from today.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) had approved the fare restructuring proposed by the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) for the public buses plying in Mumbai. As per the revised fare structure, there will be only four pricing slabs: 0-5 km, 5-10 km, 10-15 km, and over 15 km. The minimum non-AC bus fare has been brought down from Rs 8 to Rs 5 for the first five kilometres and the maximum fare for non-AC buses has been fixed at Rs 20.
The minimum AC bus fare has been reduced to Rs 6 from Rs 20, while maximum fare has been capped at Rs 25. From Tuesday, 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.
BEST, with a fleet of 3,337 buses, including 120 double-deckers, has so far failed to recover even its cost of operation, and its ridership over the years has fallen from 45 lakh a day to 27 lakh. It operates 483 routes in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai and its daily losses are estimated at around Rs 2 crore.
