The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking earned an additional Rs. 5 bn in 2025-26 after raising bus fares in May 2025, according to figures presented at a BEST committee meeting. Revenue from its transport wing increased from Rs. 16.4 bn in 2024-25 to Rs. 21.37 bn in 2025-26, a rise of Rs. 4.97 bn.

The increase helped reduce losses in the transport wing by Rs. 5.4 bn and the undertaking’s overall losses by Rs. 6.22 bn during the financial year. However, daily ridership declined from approximately 2.5 mn passengers to 2.1 mn after the fares for air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses were increased.

BEST doubled the minimum fare for non-air-conditioned buses to Rs. 10 and raised the minimum air-conditioned bus fare to Rs. 12 in May 2025. It also increased the rates for daily, weekly and monthly passes. The undertaking currently operates 2,834 buses, including 249 owned by BEST, while the remainder are operated under wet-lease arrangements.

Revenue from wet-lease bus ticket sales rose by Rs. 2.35 bn in 2025-26 compared with the previous year. BEST-operated bus ticket revenue declined by Rs. 63.1 mn, while reserved bus services generated an additional Rs. 26.5 mn. Monthly bus-pass income also increased by Rs. 4.2 mn.

BEST officials attributed the higher earnings to the fare revision, increased wet-lease operations, greater financial support from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and growth in other income. The undertaking had estimated that the fare revision would generate about Rs. 5.9 bn in additional annual ticket revenue, although the change took effect halfway through the financial year.

The municipal corporation’s grant to BEST rose to Rs. 10 bn in 2025-26 from Rs. 7.95 bn in 2024-25. Excluding that grant, transport division losses declined from Rs. 25.18 bn to Rs. 21.83 bn, indicating an improvement in the division’s financial position.