Now, a selfie contest to improve BEST’s image

In an attempt to improve its public image which has taken a hit owing to breakdown of air-conditioned buses and lack of punctuality, BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport), has not only made a budget allocation of Rs 50 lakh for technology revamp but also announced a contest where commuters can send in their selfies with or inside a BEST bus. The best selfie stands to win a prize of Rs 10,080 in cash. In another contest, BEST has asked commuters to send the best tagline defining the undertaking.

The move comes at a time when BEST is facing fire from committee members over not taking any steps to win back patronage that it has been steadily losing. Members like Kedar Hombalkar said that though these competitions are a good initiative, the core activity of providing good, timely services is getting sidelined. “I understand the whole tagline concept as it gives commuters a feeling of oneness with BEST but the selfie contest does not make sense to me. Also, I think BEST is jumping to corrective measures to increase the number of commuters instead of concentrating on the core activity of providing good air-conditioned buses and bus services with maximum 10 minute frequency,” he said.

BEST has also been scrapping old buses and shutting down nearly 90 per cent of air-conditioned routes that are believed to be bleeding it dry. “As of now, we need to have a stop-gap arrangement as around 350 buses roughly have been off the streets. Fix that and the youth will come to us automatically,” added Mr Hombalkar. Deadline for sending in selfies is June 10; the selfies have to be emailed to probestundertaking@gmail.com.