Electric Bus Supply to BEST Lags with 536 Delivered in Three Years

30 Apr 2025 CW Team

The delivery of electric buses to Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) has significantly lagged, with only 536 buses supplied over three years out of 2,100 ordered. Under a May 2022 contract, EveyTrans, a subsidiary of Olectra Greentech, was to complete delivery by May 2023.

Olectra Greentech attributed the delays to disruptions in the supply of battery-fitted chassis from its technology partner, BYD. BEST has now stated that the remaining buses are proposed to be delivered by August 2025.

The shortage of buses has caused longer waiting times and overcrowding. BEST’s fleet has declined from 4,500 buses a decade ago to around 2,800, partly due to the delayed electric bus replenishment. Despite supply issues, Olectra Greentech was awarded a new contract in April 2024 for an additional 2,400 electric buses.

BEST has issued 27 notices to the company regarding delays, and penalties of Rs 20,000 per undelivered bus are applicable. Although facing setbacks, Olectra has ramped up production and currently supplies electric buses offering up to 200 kilometres per charge.

Presently, BEST operates over 950 electric buses sourced from multiple suppliers. However, experts point out that Mumbai still falls short of international urban transport standards.

Source: Press Trust of India

Infrastructure Urban

05 May 2026

Meghalaya And Assam Hold Talks To End Transport Stoppages In Garo Hills

Meghalaya and Assam have opened talks aimed at ending recent stoppages of commodity transport in the Garo Hills, officials said. The deputy chief minister, in charge of home affairs, reported that both state governments are coordinating to resolve disruptions and to restore normal movement of goods. He acknowledged that misunderstandings may have contributed to the incidents and that clarification between administrative units is under way. The discussions are intended to produce practical arrangements that will allow consignments to move without hindrance while respecting local procedures. The..

Kochi Metro Records 1.375 mn Rise In Passengers In FY26

Kochi Metro recorded a marginal rise in ridership in the financial year 2025-26, carrying 1.375 mn more passengers than in the previous year. The service carried 36.8 million (mn) passengers in 2025-26 compared with 35.5 mn in 2024-25, representing a year-on-year increase of 3.9 per cent. The growth was described as distributed rather than concentrated in isolated spikes. A month-wise analysis shows steady gains across quarters. In the first quarter, ridership increased from 8.57 mn to 8.84 mn, while the second quarter rose from 9.13 mn to 9.51 mn. These trends indicated broad-based improvemen..

Ghaziabad Plans 16km Metro Link To Delhi Via Hindon Airport

Ghaziabad authorities are pursuing a 16 km metro link to Delhi that will run via Hindon Airport, and a detailed project report is under way. The plan is intended to improve connectivity between Ghaziabad and the national capital and to provide an interchange with the airport. Officials said the project is being studied to assess alignments, station locations and cost estimates ahead of formal approvals and tendering. The announcement follows the inauguration of the Delhi?Faridabad metro extension, which will offer hassle free travel for around 0.2 mn daily commuters between the national capita..