Thousands of commuters, travelling between Nariman Point and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), heaved a sigh of relief when the BEST authorities commenced the bus no 111, an AC mini bus service.
When the buses started everything was fine. Gradually, the services became miserable putting the commuters into inconvenience.
At the CSMT starting point, commuters are forced to stand in serpentine queue as the authorities have stopped issuing tickets for standees, who stood in a separate queue and entered the bus after all the seats were taken. The on-duty conductors say that no ticket will be issued for the standing passengers unless they wait in the queue.
Due to this reason the buses are running without standing passengers despite people being in a rush and not minding the inconvenience. Also, this is a great loss to the BEST exchequer as the number of people travelling per bus is substantially lower. One of the regular commuter, who didn’t wish to be named, said she had to regularly stand for more than 15- 20 minutes in the queue to board bus no 111, due to which she reaches her office late.
Apart from this, even the so-called AC installed in the buses don’t work properly and people are forced to open the windows on most of the occasions, she added.
Further, there are no proper shelters at the bus stops at the CSMT end and commuters have to face the ordeal of braving the sweltering summer heat and getting wet during the monsoon season.
Another commuter said, “We have been facing this difficulty for quite some time now. The senior traffic authorities of the BEST Undertaking should visit the bus route no 111 and see for themselves the hardships being faced by the commuters. In addition, they should also allow commuters to stand in a separate queue for those who are in a rush and wish to travel standing. So that they reach their respective offices on time.”
Commenting on the issue, BEST general manager Lokesh Chandra said, “We will definitely look in to the issue. But at the same time, digital ticketing solution already exists. Through the said alternative option, the commuters can buy the tickets through the App or card without waiting in the line.
