Mumbai's BEST Announces Bus Route Revamp, New AC Services: Check Details

Mumbai:
Mumbai's public transport is set to get a major boost as Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) revamps 30 bus routes and launches new AC services from June 1. These changes aim to improve connectivity with Mumbai Metro Line 3 and make commuting easier for passengers.
Major Route Redesign
Launch of new AC bus services.
Renumbering of existing routes.
Introducing new routes for better connectivity.
Changes in timetables to suit commuter demand.
New AC Bus Services Launched
Several new AC routes have been introduced to provide comfortable travel options:
A-8: Mantralaya to Shivaji Nagar Terminus (8:05 AM to 10:50 PM).
A-44: Upgraded from route 44, running Kala Chowki to Worli Depot.
A-125: Navy Nagar to Worli Depot via Mohammed Ali Road.
A-241: Santacruz to Malvani.
A-175: Circular route from Pratiksha Nagar Depot to Prabhodhankar Thackeray Udyan via Antop Hill, Wadala Church, and Khodadad Circle.
A-490: Mantralaya to Balkum, Thane (East) via Eastern Express Highway.
Other AC services include routes 243, 343, 344, 347, 452, 459, 602, and 626 covering key suburbs and transit hubs like Malad, Goregaon, Mulund, and Pawai.
Changes To Existing Routes
Route 456, previously an AC route, has been converted into a regular circular route 456.
Route 25 has been renumbered as route 29, running from Prabhodhankar Thackeray Udyan to Vihar Sarovar.
Route 11 Limited is now diverted via Lalbaug flyover between Byculla Station and Parel, bypassing stops at Jijamata Udyan, Jai Hind Cinema, and Lalbaug.
Integration With Mumbai Metro Line 3
This route rationalisation aligns with BEST's plan to improve last-mile connectivity with the Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line), particularly as its second phase (BKC to Worli Naka) is set to launch soon. The Metro's final phase (Cuffe Parade) is also expected shortly.
BEST plans to add 29 buses on 17 routes for Metro Phase II.
Another 50 buses will be added on 30 routes for Phase III.
These buses will follow ring-route patterns linking metro stations, suburban rail hubs, and commercial centres.
Benefits For Commuters
Reduced average wait times by up to 15 minutes due to route optimisation and increased service frequency.
Enhanced feeder services to the metro system and better connectivity across Mumbai suburbs.
Introduction of more AC buses on high-demand routes during peak hours for improved comfort.
Fare Revision
BEST, Mumbai's second-largest public transport operator with a fleet of around 2,800 buses serving over 30 lakh passengers daily, is facing a financial crunch. Revenues have dropped below Rs 700 crore in recent years, PTI reported.
To improve financial health, BEST has proposed a fare revision:
Doubling minimum fare for first 5 km travel.
Removal of fare caps of Rs 20 (non-AC) and Rs 25 (AC) for journeys beyond 20 km.
Expected additional annual revenue of Rs 590 crore from revised fares.
The fare revision awaits approval from the Mumbai civic body and the Regional Transport Authority.
BEST administration has urged passengers to review all new route changes and timings in advance through the official BEST website or mobile app. Commuters are advised to plan their travel accordingly to avoid inconvenience.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Time of India

an hour ago

• Time of India

Tour operator told to refund elderly couple for cancelled tour in Covid times

Ahmedabad: A consumer commission here has ordered a tour operator to refund the full amount with interest, along with Rs 55,000 compensation, to an elderly couple whose tours to Japan and Europe could not take place due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The couple was reluctant to go to the UK, Ireland, and Scotland upon the operator's insistence three years later. This case involved Asha and Yogesh Doshi, residents of the Ambawadi area, who paid Rs 5.30 lakh in 2019 to Mumbai-based Neem Holidays Pvt Ltd for two tours — Japan and Europe in 2020. Due to the Covid pandemic, the tours were cancelled. When normalcy returned, they requested the same tour package, but the operator could not arrange it. Considering that people were still reeling under financial stress due to Covid, the couple did not demand their money back. In 2022, the tour operator offered them a 13-day package for Australia. They agreed and paid Rs 10,000 extra, but this did not take place. A year later, the operator offered the couple a tour to the United Kingdom. The couple refused this trip, yet their tickets were booked. They requested the company not to force them to accept this package tour and demanded their money back. As the operator did not respond, the couple sued it with the District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, Ahmedabad City to get the refund. The operator's lawyer appeared, but the reply was not filed. The commission said that since the money was lying with the operator, the complainants did not have any choice but to agree to the unreasonable request. However, compelling them for another tour against their wish was harassment. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "The complainant's money has been wrongfully withheld by the opponent, and therefore the complainants are entitled to receive the full money of the package tour from the opponent," it said. The commission ordered the operator to return Rs 5.40 lakh with 8% interest, along with Rs 55,000 extra towards compensation for causing "physical harassment and mental agony" and towards the expenditure the couple incurred on litigation.

Time of India

2 hours ago

• Time of India

Hoteliers urge state govt to address issues to boost tourism sector

Bhubaneswar: Members of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) on Saturday urged the govt to address challenges facing the tourism sector, including lack of land and infrastructure, to help the state become the 7th most popular destination for tourists by 2027. "The lack of proper infrastructure and land availability is severely hampering tourism development in Odisha. We are ready to invest, but there's a visible gap in demand and supply," said Milind Gupta, secretary general of HRAO, ahead of the 6th Odisha Tourism Conclave scheduled to be held in Bhubaneswar on June 25. He added that the Tourism Policy 2022 did not yield results, and fresh proposals, such as simplifying approval processes and categorising tourism under the special economic zone (SEZ) framework, single-window clearance, and providing capital and interest subsidies for investors, have been submitted to the govt. HRAO members stated that Odisha remains among the states with the least number of hotel rooms, with just 16 classified hotels and 1,055 rooms available till 2023. However, a total of 97.25 lakh domestic and 0.45 lakh international tourists visited the state in 2023, as per the India Tourism Statistics Report 2024. "There was growth in the tourism sector, though the pace is slow. To increase the pace, there is a need for a policy overhaul. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo We have high hopes from the govt that they will consider our proposals and include them in the new tourism policy," said Debashis Patnaik, another HRAO member. "The govt identified land banks in 15 places across the state," he added. The conclave will bring together travel experts, investors, and industry leaders to discuss ways to boost infrastructure, attract investment and promote international tourism. According to HRAO, despite its rich cultural and natural heritage, including Asia's largest lagoon, Chilika, and a 480-km coastline, Odisha has been losing over Rs 9,000 crore annually in foreign exchange due to outbound Indian tourism. HRAO emphasised the need to capitalise on the momentum by investing in manpower training and integrating tourism-focused education from the school level.

Business Standard

2 hours ago

• Business Standard

Air fares surge post Ahmedabad plane crash, rampant price gouging

Following the Ahmedabad plane crash, a sharp increase in air ticket prices is observed, something that can be described as price gouging, or charging excessively high rates. According to reports, nearly 41 per cent tickets have been cancelled, said Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council Chairperson Jyoti Mayal. A travel agent mentioned that a ticket, which was priced slightly above Rs 6,000 before the accident, is now being sold for around Rs 34,000. Mayal said that there has been a significant rise in ticket cancellations following the Ahmedabad plane accident. Speaking to ANI, she said, "I don't want to take names, but some airlines have increased their ticket prices. This is reportedly because flights that are running full due to cancellations have seen a spike in ticket fares. According to her information, around 41 per cent of tickets have been cancelled. However, similar trends were also noticed recently in connection with Jammu and Kashmir." She further mentioned that they are receiving queries from people asking whether the prices of exit row seats will now increase. "I would like to clarify that there is no such information yet suggesting that the fares for exit row seats have increased. She said that it is certain that most people are now demanding seats in the exit row. She also pointed out that travel agents have suffered significant losses in recent days. Whenever any adverse situation arises, the travel trade is the first to be affected," she told ANI. Roopak Punyani, owner of Delhi-based travel company Travel Canvas India Private Limited, said that apart from the overall global situation and recent tensions between India and Pakistan, the Ahmedabad accident has had a serious negative impact. Cancellations are mainly coming from the corporate sector. Most people are now ensuring that they avoid flying in Boeing aircraft, he said. While he did not directly say that this has caused a rise in ticket prices, he noted that direct flights from certain locations are no longer operating. As a result, passengers are having to pay higher fares due to having to travel on connecting flights. Saurabh Tiwari, a travel agent at Sushant Travels, Delhi, said that they are receiving a large number of flight ticket cancellation requests. Passengers are quite scared. Some travellers are even converting their air travel plans into train journeys, causing them significant inconvenience and loss. He also mentioned that cancellations have impacted ticket prices, leading to a surge. For example, a flight from Delhi to Dhaka, which used to cost around Rs 7,000 to Rs 9,000, is now priced between Rs 30,000 to Rs 34,000. According to him, airline companies have increased ticket fares, and this change is being seen due to the cancellation of Air India flights following the Ahmedabad plane accident. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)