BMC passes proposal to increase BEST bus fares

Mumbai: Mumbaikars will have to shell out more money from April 1 to travel in Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday passed the proposal to hike the BEST ticket fares.

According to civic officials, the move will not only result in increase in ticket fare but also the shutting down of 240 routes in the city.

The BMC had said it would provide funds to BEST, which is in a financial crisis, on the condition that it undertakes cost-cutting measures. For this, the BMC had suggested several recommendations including hiking the ticket fare and closing down some routes.

The proposal also consisted of curtailing the number of buses to 3,337 by removing 453 vehicles from the fleet. Some 1,703 buses that have seen a low response will also be shut down and 1,250 of them will be hired on rental basis.

“The proposal had to be passed before April 7. Hence it was approved in the civic House at the earliest,” said Shiv Sena group leader Yashwant Jadhav.

However, Opposition members have alleged that the proposal was approved in haphazard manner by keeping them in dark. “The BMC had promised to provide funds to help the BEST in its financial crisis. However, it has not been done so far,” he said.