BEST boosts Mumbai commute with 10 New AC double-decker buses
ECONOMY & POLICY

BEST boosts Mumbai commute with 10 New AC double-decker buses

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) has taken significant strides to enhance its bus services in Mumbai. In an official statement, BEST announced the introduction of 10 additional air-conditioned double-decker buses in Kurla and Bandra Kurla Complex. This initiative comes as a relief to suburban commuters, especially after the withdrawal of all non-AC double-decker buses in October.

At present, BEST boasts a fleet of 39 AC double-decker buses out of the total 200 buses ordered from SWITCH Mobility. Currently, 20 of these buses operate in the island city, and 10 serve the suburbs of Mumbai. The remaining nine buses will be gradually incorporated into the fleet based on demand. The delivery of all remaining AC double-decker buses is anticipated to be completed by March 2024. These buses will operate from the 12 depots managed by BEST, significantly enhancing public transport services in Mumbai.

Under the wet lease arrangement, the contractor assumes responsibilities such as paying crew salaries and covering operational costs, including fuel and maintenance. BEST, facing financial challenges opted for this approach to add more electric buses to its fleet and reduce costs. BEST, often regarded as the second lifeline of Mumbaikars after local trains, is currently operating 3,100 buses. Approximately 1,600 buses are under its ownership, while the rest are operated under wet lease agreements.

BEST's buses are popular among commuters due to their affordable ticket prices, ranging from a minimum of Rs 6 to a maximum of Rs 25. This affordability, coupled with the extensive network and reliability, makes BEST a preferred mode of transport in the city. The buses cater to a massive ridership of more than 30 lakh passengers every day, solidifying their status as a vital part of Mumbai's public transportation system.

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) has taken significant strides to enhance its bus services in Mumbai. In an official statement, BEST announced the introduction of 10 additional air-conditioned double-decker buses in Kurla and Bandra Kurla Complex. This initiative comes as a relief to suburban commuters, especially after the withdrawal of all non-AC double-decker buses in October. At present, BEST boasts a fleet of 39 AC double-decker buses out of the total 200 buses ordered from SWITCH Mobility. Currently, 20 of these buses operate in the island city, and 10 serve the suburbs of Mumbai. The remaining nine buses will be gradually incorporated into the fleet based on demand. The delivery of all remaining AC double-decker buses is anticipated to be completed by March 2024. These buses will operate from the 12 depots managed by BEST, significantly enhancing public transport services in Mumbai. Under the wet lease arrangement, the contractor assumes responsibilities such as paying crew salaries and covering operational costs, including fuel and maintenance. BEST, facing financial challenges opted for this approach to add more electric buses to its fleet and reduce costs. BEST, often regarded as the second lifeline of Mumbaikars after local trains, is currently operating 3,100 buses. Approximately 1,600 buses are under its ownership, while the rest are operated under wet lease agreements. BEST's buses are popular among commuters due to their affordable ticket prices, ranging from a minimum of Rs 6 to a maximum of Rs 25. This affordability, coupled with the extensive network and reliability, makes BEST a preferred mode of transport in the city. The buses cater to a massive ridership of more than 30 lakh passengers every day, solidifying their status as a vital part of Mumbai's public transportation system.

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Three Firms Shortlisted for Rs 332 Million Delhi Metro Contract

Three firms have qualified for the electrification contract D2E-12 of Delhi Metro Phase 4’s Line 10 and Line 5 extension. Line 10 spans 23.622 km, connecting Aerocity and Tughlakabad with 15 stations, while the Line 5 extension covers 12.58 km between Inderlok and Indraprastha with 10 stations.In June 2025, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) invited bids for this contract. The technical bids were opened on 4 August 2025, with four firms submitting proposals. During the evaluation, one firm’s bid was rejected.The three qualified firms are:M/s A.K. Infra ProjectsM/s Kalpataru Projects I..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

L&T Seeks to Sell Hyderabad Metro Stake Amid Financial Losses

Infrastructure major Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) has expressed its intention to sell its stake, exceeding 90 per cent, in the L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail project to either the state or central government through a new Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), citing operational and accumulated losses.In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), L&T Metro Rail stated that despite repeated follow-ups, the Telangana government has not provided the expected financial assistance. The delay is worsening the financial distress of the concessionaire, making the situa..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Ixigo Launches Delhi Metro Ticketing on Its Trains App

Online travel aggregator (OTA) ixigo has partnered with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to launch Delhi Metro ticketing on the ixigo Trains app on 12 September.As part of the collaboration, ixigo Trains now offers QR-based metro tickets with in-app payments. Users can plan and book end-to-end journeys across trains, buses, flights, hotels and now metro services on a single platform.The DMRC operates nearly 400 km of network across more than a dozen lines, making it India’s largest and busiest metro system. In August 2025, it recorded i..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?