Your commute could soon become better (or even BEST, pun intended) as the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has begun the process of calling for tenders for agencies to supply electric cabs with drivers (also known as a wet lease) for last-mile connectivity in Mumbai. According to an article written for the Times of India by Somit Sen, the agency will provide cabs on an ‘aggregator basis’ on a revenue-sharing model with the agency providing the vehicles and staff and thus keep BEST’s capital expenditure at zero. The article also mentions that the agency will provide fuel, which is kind of odd given that these are electric vehicles. The cabs will be electrified.
Users who want to book then can book them using BEST’s Chalo App, and fares will be on par with other aggregators including Ola and Uber. A user can plan a -multi-modal journey using both cabs and buses.
Although unrelated, BEST also recently procured 16 electric Tata cars for its staff to use.
An important question arises: If the private partner is providing the fuel, to be read as paying for electricity, then what about the charging? Will the undertaking open up its charging infrastructure at various depots and bus stations for these vehicles?
An interesting point to note: Fellow transit-enthusiast Kundan Srivastav had explained (in detail) a similar concept where public transport agencies such as BEST could tie-up with private partners to operate taxis under a common brand name way back in 2020 during the early stages of the lockdown. I hope he may write an article on it some day. Please do follow Kundan on Twitter, @kun_srivastav.
An even more interesting thing to note. A year ago, in August 2021, a badly photoshopped picture of a red Volkswagen Polo with BEST’s logo on it made the rounds on social media, purporting to be BEST’s new electric taxi service. BEST clarified it to be fake news. You can read more about it here: Fake News Alert: BEST Is Not Launching Electric Taxis.
To mark India’s 75th year of Independence, the Birhanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking arranged its buses at the Mumbai Central Depot to form the number 75, similar to its sibling the Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT). While the NMMT paraded its Ashok Leyland JanBus and JBM EcoLife fleet, BEST decided to do so with its Tata CNG fleet.
Take a look at the pictures below, as shared by BEST on Twitter.
BEST buses at Mumbai Central Depot parked to form the number 75
Here is a more expansive view of the same formation before completion.
BEST buses forming number 75 at Mumbai Central Depot
Along with this, the undertaking also lit up Parivahan Bhavan, (Transport House) at its headquarters in Colaba in the tricolour. You can see it here:
It’s 15 August 2022, India’s Independence Day. To mark the occasion, as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) undertaking did something very interesting.
Here is what they did. Images were shared by the NMMT on Twitter.
Buses at the Ghansoli Depot were parked to form the number “75”, first with just their red buses and again, by colouring the roofs of buses with the tricolour.
Check it out below.
Fisheye view of NMMT buses in special formation at Ghansoli DepotNMMT buses in the special formation with the tricolour at Ghansoli DepotNMMT buses in special formation at Ghansoli Depot
Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking had its headquarters (Electric House) lit up in the tricolour. Do take a look below:
Paraivahan Bhavan (Transport House) lit up in the tricolour for Independence Day
Prime Minister Modi’s call for Har Ghar Tiranga as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav has seen a phenomenal response.
I hope you celebrated Independence Day with much fanfare, but till we are done with the pandemic, please do take precautions.
The 1,400 single deck electric buses (with Driver) tender of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking is quite a burning topic with one bidder losing nearly a ₹2,450 crore deal while the other grabbed a ₹3,675 Crore deal to supply 2,100 single deck electric buses to BEST on a Gross Cross Contract for 12 years. The huge order sent the value of Olectra Greentech (OGL) up by ₹21 on the stock markets. Let us have an overview of the complete scenario so far.
Disclaimer:This article contains information as well as author’s opinion. BESTpedia respects all the automobile manufacturers and transport undertakings. The topic contains a lot of political involvement and the author has taken utmost care in keeping it unbiased. We do not promote any hate towards any manufacturer. At the end of the day, we all deserve better public transport.
Tata Motors in its plea to the Bombay High Court, alleged that in the Brihanmumbai Electricity supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking disqualifying their bid, the decision was done to favour Evey Trans Private Limited, a subsidiary of Olectra Greentech. The bid was considered technically non-responsive by BEST during the technical evaluation, on 6 May 2022. The range of the buses turned out to be a prime element among these. In a recent hearing, it was found out that Tata Motors did guarantee their buses can run up to 200kms on a charge of 80 per cent. Since Tata Motors did not assure on-road guarantee, the specifications ended up only up to theoretical standards, over actual conditions.
Why is Tata not exactly the BEST option?
We would be focusing more on Tata over here, since we have covered Olectra’s track record with BEST in my previous article. The passengers’ opinion on this topic turns equally important since the commuters and crew would be the ones to use these buses on a regular basis for years to come. As of today, BEST has 340 Tata Starbus EVs in its fleet that are a mix of midi and single deck AC buses allotted to Backbay, Shivajinagar, Malvani and Worli depots.
The issue started with screeching noise by electric buses. Gaurang is an EV enthusiast and follows updates in the industry. He has pointed out the flaws and compiled them in a Twitter thread.
The seating capacity of a Tata Starbus Urban EV is 35 passengers which could have been 40 in the absence of the wheelchair lift. Despite of having specifications like advanced regenerative braking, Intelligent Transport system (ITS), USB charging ports onboard and a nice space for the Emergency Exit, the product does not live up to the mark. Apart from this, the dusty floor created a question mark regarding Tata Motors’ maintenance. The buses are thoroughly washed from outside at the depots, but interior cleaning and upkeep is still a question. The Ultra EVs, although are comparatively better than the LP913 CNG Midi Buses. Semi-Low Floor design does offer the required comfort during journey. These buses are ideal on BRTS Routes since the 35-Seater space can be utilised by adding seats in place of the wheelchair lift and BRTS Doors perfectly levelling with the bus stops.
Tata Motors LP913 CNG Bus (Copyright: Ganndharva Purohit)
Social Media: Adding more Fuel to the Fire
Everybody has a right to put forth their opinions on social media, as do Twitter users. After all, social media has given a platform for everyone to express themselves. When Tata Motors approached the Court, there were a lot of allegations “Olectra might become the next Kinglong”. With the Kinglong tag, it becomes easy to define it a fraud in public domain. However, the original story itself is different, than many of us know. When the buses were procured by BEST and inaugurated by then General Manager Uttam Khobragade, they were publicised as Kinglong Buses while these Cerita Buses were built by Punjab-based Jaycee Coach Builders Private Limited (JCBL) and not imported from China. An in-depth analysis regarding the same was when BEST stopped all their AC Bus Services back in 2017 and Khobragade plunged into politics.
The loss of 48 CNG buses from the 3xxx Series has begun the end of Bharat Stage 3 (BS3)Tata CNG Buses serving in BEST. In the 5xxx Series, there are nearly 594 Buses which would get scrapped by 2024. The Tata Starbus Hybrid (all 25 are with Dharavi Depot as of now) might leave us by 2027 while the BS4 Tata LPO1618 AMT (also known as ACGL among busfans) would not leave us at least till 2030. There were talks of retrofitting these buses into CNG, but there is no update regarding the same. As of now, these 185 buses are operated by Colaba, Backbay, Shivajinagar, Kurla, Bandra and Worli depots.
BS4 Tata LPO1618 AMT (Photo Copyright: Gandharva Purohit)
Inducted in service in 2019-20, the BS4 Tata LP913 (if maintained till the end) would be in service till 2028. There are about 512 such AC CNG midi buses in service with Mumbai Central, Deonar, Ghatkopar, Anik, Mulund, Magathane and Gorai depots. Next came the 340 electric buses procured under the Central government-backed FAME II scheme. Tata Starbus Ultra EVs and Tata Starbus Urban EVs are allotted to Backbay, Shivajinagar, Malvani and Worli depots. The latest addition to BEST fleet is 400 Tata LPO1613 BS6 CNG buses. These Non-AC Semi Low-Floor buses are allotted to Pratikshanagar, Majas, Santacruz and Dharavi depot. If we talk about numbers, even by not adding the BS3 CNG Buses, the current strength of Tata buses would be around 1,462 which includes the Hybrid, BS4, BS6 and Electric buses.
Tata LPO1613 BS6 CNG bus (Image Copyright: Gandharva Purohit)
Conclusion
There is no doubt Tata Motors is a trustworthy automobile manufacturer in the country. But the Indian electric vehicle industry is still in its developing stage and currently, only the BEST – pun intended – should be given priority. There is room for improvement for every player. Ashok Leyland’s Switch Mobility have launched their EiV 12 on 14 June 2022 in Chennai as a product exclusively built keeping in mind the expectations from an Electric Bus for the Indian market. Volvo-Eicher Commercial Vehicles (VECV) showcased their Skyline 3012 & Skyline 6019 Electric uses, a month ago at the Indore Auto Show.
EiV 12 by Switch Mobility. Credits – Switch
The current fleet of Olectra Buses in BEST is 46 and the order will add 2,100 more. Let’s hope that BEST takes fleet expansion seriously, this time since Mumbai does not have enough Metro lines functional as of now. Suburban trains and BEST Buses would continue to be a backbone of Public Transport in Mumbai until the third lifeline is not operational. The undertaking aimed to increase its fleet fourfold. From 3,000 to 6,000 then to 10,000. But the issue is, number of buses being procured are not sufficient to fill the absence due to buses being scrapped.
Featured Image: Tata Starbus ULTRA EV and meil K7D at Rani Laxmibai Chowk, Sion (Photo Copyright: Gandharva Purohit)
If you are stepping out, do note that while masks are no longer mandatory, please stay safe, better safe than sorry.
Olectra Greentech Limited bags an order of 2,100 SD EVs from BEST worth ₹3,675 crore. After ordering a lot of Buses from Tata, BEST seems trying to woo bus fans by choosing OGL.
In effort to strengthen its bus fleet, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking had issued a tender for 1,900 AC Electric Buses (with drivers) in late 2021. This tender included 100 Mini Buses, 400 Midi Buses and 1,400 Single Deck Buses. As the biddings proceeded, Olectra Greentech Limited was considered as the L1 bidder for Mini and Midi Buses while Tata Motors Limited was considered as an L1 bidder for the 1,400 SD Buses. This invited a huge controversy over BEST compromising quality over quantity, since the TATA Starbus Urban EVs that are already in service are running with a lot of technical drawbacks. Few months passed and the tender was modified to be meant as only 1,400 Electric AC Buses with drivers and this time, Evey Trans Private Limited (a subsidiary of Olectra) won as the L1 bidder, with Switch Mobility (Ashok Leyland) and PMI Foton being the next two.
Tata Motors was rejected on the basis of their technical specifications and claiming it an unfair decision, approached the High Court. Causis E-Mobility (Naam toh suna hi hoga) too participated in this tender and got straightaway rejected. Olectra issued a letter of Acknowledgement on 23 May 2022 stating 2,100 Electric Buses with drivers would be procured for a contract of 12 years. After three years, Olectra has won a contract for BEST. On this occasion, let’s have a revision of Olectra’s journey so far with BEST.
A Track Record of Olectra’s buses with BEST
Olectra 712 of the Kalakilla Depot (Picture: Gandharva Purohit)
In 2018, BEST had purchased six non-AC buses built by KMS Coach Builders under the brand name Goldstone (since renamed Olectra). These electric buses are operated by Backbay Depot till date on route 100 from Ahilyabai Holkar Chowk (Churchgate Station) to Free Press Journal Marg (Nariman Point). Back in 2018 when the buses were new, Backbay used to send them on Route 25Ltd to Rani Laxmibai Chowk, Sion in the morning.
On 10 September 2019, the first wet-leased Olectra K7D: – 711/KK/OL of Kalakilla Depot ran on route A302 from Maharana Pratap Chowk, Mulund (West) to Rani Laxmibai Chowk, Sion via LBS Marg. It was the same time, when BEST had slashed down their ticket fares to ₹5-20 for non-AC Buses & ₹6-25/- for AC Buses. With this being the only active AC Bus in the suburbs, passengers were reluctant to board the AC Bus with the fear of having heavy prices. It was the effect of fare slash ‑ conductor was promoting the fact of ticket not costing more than ₹25. As of now, 20 AC and 20 non-AC electric Midi Buses continue to serve the Kalakilla Depot of BEST which is also utilised for charging the Mumbai – Pune PuriBus, side by side.
In initial days, there happened to be complaints about the crew misbehaving with passengers in terms of stoppages, since BEST operated several routes without conductors. In this case, the drivers were instructed to pick up passengers only from bus stops where a conductor would be present for ground booking. One case was an activist, claiming himself to be a BEST Officer shat on the bus driver.
@myBESTBus आम्ही प्रवाशांनी किती दिवस या भाडोत्री चालक आणि गाड्यांची दादागिरी आणि त्रास सहन करायचं. Corona काळात जेव्हा मुंबई लोकल सर्वांसाठी उपलब्ध नाहीये असा वेळी या कंत्राट चालकांची मुजोरी का बघायची या चालकावर लवकरात लवकर कारवाई होईल ही अपेक्षा pic.twitter.com/td0mj67A7w
After multiple complaints, buses on long routes were given conductors onboard from 1 September 2021 and this, in a way helped clearing the mess. The maintenance of Olectra K7D was kept top notch all the time. This was the last model with BEST to sport the vertically opening windows that are becoming a part of history. The unique window design ensures proper ventilation inside non-AC buses. The contractor also took care of installing the old-school horns, that are a trademark for BEST uses along with the bell-pull that remains the best means of communication between a driver and conductor despite of all the technical advancements in buses.
In recent past, there were cases of ill-maintained buses of Olectra running on route 66 and C42 with broken rear windshields and window panel not properly replaced (happened with an AC Bus serving on C42Exp from Sion to Dadlani Park), although, both the buses were immediately attended and put back in service. In past three years, this 9-metre Olectra K7D did not just limit itself to Fort, Thane and Central Mumbai, but went beyond its reaching Mira-Bhayander as well.
Conclusion
The order of 2,100 Buses from Olectra was heavily welcomed by busfan community, knowing the performance of BYD Buses in service around the world. With Mumbai getting Single Deck Electric Buses in huge volume makes the aim of BEST electrifying the fleet by 2025 more clear, the Olectra K9D 2.1 soon joining the fleet has left several bus enthusiasts in excitement.
Wishing our hopes do not turn into ashes and BEST is really serious about fleet expansion. The fate of 900 Electric Buses is still awaited, where we have two big players in the market: Switch Mobility (Ashok Leyland) and Olectra Greentech (BYD K10). Another perspective of seeing this positivity is the date of Mumbai Municipal Elections, that let me to use the term “woo” in the beginning since at this moment, neither the crew nor busfans are happy with the current situation of BEST.
Alexander Dennis BYDK10 on route X140 . Picture courtesy :- ABshek Risbud
Passengers are trying to find other alternatives when a bus does not show up. It is high time BEST improves its image in the public domain or else it might end up in a downward spiral. With Tata Motors, JBM and Causis not able to qualify as per the mark, Olectra has taken the golden opportunity to a breakthrough. With the codal life of TATA CNG buses ending in 2024 and that of BS3 Ashok Leyland Buses in 2025, this huge order proves to be a better replacement to bring a balance in the bus fleet.
Featured Image: MEIL Olectra K9 2.1 of PMPML Bhekrai Nagar Depot (Picture: Gandharva Purohit)
If you are stepping out, do note that while masks are no longer mandatory, please stay safe, better safe than sorry. (P.S: I personally recommend getting the Viroshield Mouth Spray by Zydus Cadilla)
Note: An earlier version of this article said that the initial Olectra buses were built by BEBCO Body Builders and not KMS Coach Builders.
On 20 April 2022, the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport undertaking (BEST) launched its first digital bus which had a new “Tap-In and Tap-Out” system. This system is similar to London’s Oyster Card; the only difference is that in London you don’t have to tap out since there is a single fare structure on their routes. Out of curiosity I wanted to try this system since I have been thinking about this after BEST launched their conductor-less bus services.
On 3 May I went to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and took A-115 to Churchgate. When I reached Churchgate Station there were two Electric buses on A-112 (Ahilyabai Holkar Chowk, Churchgate to Gateway of India) but since both buses didn’t have the tap-in/tap-out machines, I skipped both buses and waited for 10 -15 minutes. Then came a CNG Midi bus from Mumbai Central Depot (7147) on the same route. It never came to mind that this bus is the bus I have been waiting for. So I thought I would go back to CSMT Bus Station after taking a short trip to Gateway Of India.
A-112 between Ahilyabai Holkar Chowk, Churchgate Station and Gateway of India. (Photo: Vishal Naik)
I bought a ticket from the ground booking conductor using an NCMC (National Common Mobility Card) and he was surprised to see it since for him it was first time seeing this new card. After telling him about how the card works after tapping it on ticket machine, I boarded the bus and after a few seconds I noticed that there were tap-in/tap-out machines installed at the front and rear doors respectively.
Successful Tap-In (Photo: Vishal Naik)
After the end of this trip, I boarded the bus again. I asked the conductor if I could use my card directly on the machines he agreed and at first my NCMC sadly didn’t work so next I used my normal Chalo Card, and it worked like a charm. There was a person who was monitoring this system inside the bus. I asked him why NCMC didn’t work, and he replied that they haven’t updated this system yet which is why my NCMC wasn’t being accepted by the machine. Finally at the end of the journey I had to tap out after that the fare amount was displayed along with the balance remaining in the card on the machine and I got a printed ticket.
Tapping-Out at the destination (Photo: Vishal Naik)
Overall the system looks good, only one thing that should be skipped is printing paper tickets because at the end the machine displays remaining balance and the amount deducted for your card. The driver keeps a tab on commuters who are tapping in making sure that no one enters the bus without tapping in or having valid tickets. If a person forgets to tap out in the next tap In maximum fare will be deducted from his card balance. This system will get rid of those time consuming conductor-less services.
The Printed Ticket at the end (Photo: Vishal Naik)
Before introducing more routes BEST should increase the sales of Chalo Smart card as well as Chalo NCM. It seems like very few NCMCshave been sold because every time I show mine to any conductor it is their first time seeing an NCM. Once Mumbai Metro and the Mumbai Suburban Railway integrate NCMC in their system commuters can easily change modes of transport without carrying multiple cards.
Featured Image: BEST’s Tap-In, Tap-Out system (Photo: Vishal Naik)
If you are stepping out, do note that while masks are no longer mandatory, the new XE variant of the Wuhan Virus is making the rounds. Stay safe, better safe than sorry.
With the formal launch of commercial operations (albeit with a lot of technical snags) of the Red and Yellow lines (Line 2A and Line 7) of Mumbai Metro on Gudi Padwa this week, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) also set up a few new bus shelters outside the metro stations.
These new bus shelters feature a map of the two metro lines in question, feature space for wheelchair-users and interestingly, have the bus routes marked on the road surface as well.
New bus shelter at Virvani Estate near Aarey Metro Station (Anand/@aa_G7460 on Twitter)
According to the images and the description of the bus stop (written on the bus stop itself), they feature USB ports for charging phones, CCTV cameras, and are dedicated to Divyang users. The bus shelter itself has been designed by an agency called Aaartist, which has designed signboards for several railway stations and other prominent properties around Maharashtra.
Road Marking at Virvani Estate Bus Stop (Anand/@aa_G7460 on Twitter)
As you can see in the above two images, bus routes have been marked on the side of the road. Oddly, while Limited Stop routes (226, 460 and 706) have been marked in red, the AC (A-488) and Express (C-15, C71, C-72) routes remain marked in black along with the sole regular route (225). Now, at the bus stop itself, there are purple line markings on the floor that correspond to the dotted line that separates each route in the second line. Clearly, this is meant to be a queue management system, which says रांगेत चला, Crowd Management System, Mind Set.
Let’s hope that buses follow this demarcation when it comes to stopping. We’ve all seen how Pune’s BRTS drivers initially struggled to stop the bus at the exact stop for the doors to open.
Let’s hope for better bus stops in the future. In the mean time, do read this: Building a Smart Bus Stop.
Featured Image: Aarey Metro Station by Gandharva Purohit.
If you are stepping out, do note that while masks are no longer mandatory, the new XE variant of the Wuhan Virus is making the rounds. Stay safe, better safe than sorry.
In his bid to revamp the image of the Birhanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking and promote Mumbai as an “always awake” city, state minister Aaditya Thackeray had in 2017 proposed to allow more establishments to remain open. Back then, I had written a post asking when more public transport would be made available at night. You can read it here: More Nightlife In Mumbai Is Great But Can We Also Focus On Improved Public Transport?
Now, nearly four and a half years later, BEST has announced that it will operate a few buses between midnight and 5am in the morning starting from 7 March 2022. BEST has shared a list of bus routes along with a map.
Buses will have standard fare and can be flagged by showing your hand.
BEST Press Note on Night Routes
As per the press note released by BEST, the bus routes that will operate at night are:
1 from Electric House to Mahim Bus Station
66Ltd from Electric House to Rani Lakshmibai Chowk
202Ltd from Mahim Bus Station to Poisar Depot
302 from Rani Lakshmibai Chowk to Maharana Pratap Chowk (Mulund)
305 from Backbay Depot to Rani Lakshmibai Chowk
440Ltd from Mahim Bus Station to Borivili Station (West) via the Domestic and International Terminal (T1 and T2) of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
BEST also shared a map of the six routes in question.
BEST Map of Night Routes
While this is undoubtedly a good move, there are a few questions.
The first is why so late? Aaditya Thackeray first announced plans for allowing establishments at night in 2017 itself. Back then, he said that this was planned from 2013. It took nine years for anything to happen on the ground? BEST, as a municipal entity has been under the MCGM/BMC for a long time and the municipal corporation in turn has been ruled by Thackeray’s Shiv Sena for over 25 years.
The second is, why the disproportionate bias towards South Bombay (SoBo) over the suburbs? BEST in the last two years have been favouring SoBo whether it is the AC buses or electric buses.
The third question is, why only buses? Why not the Metro or Monorail which are bound to serve people faster and better? Of course, talking about the metro and the current government in the same sentence is a joke.
The timing of this is pretty obvious however. Elections to the corporation are due in a month or so and the Sena is desperate to win. Its former partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has made major inroads in Mumbai and defeated the Sena in several wards in a neck-to-neck battle in the 2017 municipal election where they were just two seats behind the Sena.
Featured Image: A BEST bus parked at night at Mulund. (Image: Gandharva Purohit)
If you are stepping out, make sure you wear a mask, follow COVID-appropriate behavior and keep your hands sanitised at all times. Maharashtra is still the top state by total cases and deaths.
With the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking’s double-decker fleet strength going down from 120 to 48 in the last two years, the city’s iconic bus might stage a comeback soon.
The BEST committee has approved the procurement of 900 air-conditioned (AC), electric double-decker buses on a wet lease for 12 years to alleviate the city’s traffic woes.
BEST’s original plan included inducting 2,100 AC electric buses that included 200 double-deckers. The undertaking wants to convert 50 per cent of its fleet to electric by 2023 and go completely electric by 2027. As part of this move, it wants to procure 1,400 regular buses, 400 mini-buses and 100 mini-buses, all air-conditioned and electric. However, the number for the double-deckers has now gone up to 900.
The change in procurement has now led to a fight between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Sena in the BEST committee. The BJP has stated that the earlier proposal for 200 buses was to be funded by the Central government’s Ministry of Heavy Industries under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme. The BJP has asked where the funding is coming from and has questioned the scope of the tender given that any increase in expenses will have to be borne by BEST. Questions have also been asked how the tender has been merged with the state government’s clean energy policy.
Four manufacturers had evinced interest in the original tender with prices ranging from ₹56 to ₹160 per kilometre. Sources say BEST will likely ask the second bidder to bring in 200 buses while the lowest bidder will supply the rest.
Transport experts have questioned how BEST is able to get double-deckers at such low prices when single-decker buses (AC and electric) cost between ₹54 and ₹72 per kilometre.
Minister Aaditya Thackeray meanwhile took to Twitter to share an image of London’s Metroline Double-Decker buses with the BEST logo (बेस्ट) photoshopped on it, thus misleading many people.
The photoshopped image shared by Aaditya Thackeray
This in turn led to a series of hilarious, satirical tweets with vehicles from across the world being shared as achievements of the Uddhav Thackeray-led government.
The best (pun intended) among them was shared by Maithun with a hilarious caption: Under the disable leadership of Priyanka Chaturvedi, Mumbai is all set to get BEST mini flying taxi. Aaditya Thackeray personally monitored the project.
The image shared by Maithun.
Meanwhile, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) undertaking, which has been having a golden run with its electric AC fleet, has floated a tender to procure a single electric AC double-decker. The undertaking has said that it wants to run a pilot project and if it is economically viable, it may increase the fleet strength.
The tender document stipulates that NMMT would buy a fully built bus with a 12-year long annual maintenance contract (AMC). The manufacturer would have to provide a two year warranty for the bus and a five-year warranty for the battery while also installing a charging station.
A sad thing to note is that NMMT will soon scrap its 12 Volvo buses as they are more than ten years old and their operating costs have become too high.
To read more humorous and satirical takes on BEST, do check out the Satire section.
Let’s hope BEST gets the new double-deckers without any issues. The political slugfest and sharing of fake images do not bode well for the transport body.
If you are stepping out, make sure you wear a mask, follow COVID-appropriate behavior and keep your hands sanitised at all times. Maharashtra is still the top state by total cases and deaths.
Featured Image: Ashok Leyland’s Switch Metrodecker bus
After getting well-versed with the Chalo app, it’s time to get familiar with the Chalo Card. For Mumbai, this isn’t the first time a smart card system has been implemented. Mumbaikars are already using them on Central and Western Railway for buying tickets through the automatic ticket vending machines (ATVM) for nearly a decade. The GO Mumbai Card from 2005 can be called as a precursor to the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC). It could be used for Railways as well as BEST buses although it didn’t have a bright future. Then came the Trimax RFID cards in 2011 for bus passes which were a new concept as bus ticketing got digital with the electronic ticket machines (ETMs) manufactured by Mumbai-based Powercraft Electronics under the brand-name Balaji. You can read more about the earlier version of BEST’s electronic ticketing system here- Electronic Ticketing Systems: Who got it right and how.
Fast forward to 2021, when Chalo became the new ticketing vendor for BEST, it was yet another step forward towards promoting cashless payments. The Chalo app offers payments through online methods such as UPI, Credit and Debit Cards and Net-banking for ticket purchase. To make it better, BEST launched their Super Saver Plans in Mumbai for an efficient commute. You can read about it in-detail from the previous article where we explored the Chalo App and its features. On 1 January 2022, BEST launched the long-awaited Chalo Card in Mumbai (starting from Colaba & Wadala Depot). This Smart Card works as an eWallet (replacing the earlier Trimax-powered ePurse) which can be bought from the bus conductor. After being a tremendous success in Vijayawada, Nagpur, Jabalpur, Udupi and Mangalore, the Smart Card has finally been launched in Mumbai.
Chalo Travel Card issued for use by APSRTC
The Chalo card costs ₹70 and can be recharged by adding a minimum balance of ₹10 and then further in multiples of ₹10. As explained by the crew, the Chalo card can be recharged online as well but needs to be activated by the bus conductor. The most satisfying part however, is that your balance does not come with an expiry date. So even if another lockdown is imposed from tomorrow, the amount added in your Chalo Card will remain copacetic. The wallet can be recharged on any day and at any time with the help of a bus conductor. You can even feed your Super Saver Plans in it and use it as a bus pass. There are talks to make this Card functional on the Mumbai Metro in the near future, thereby taking the city closer to a form of the NCMC. But what is the future? Time will tell…. But it’s definitely bright.
Chalo Travel Card issued by BEST in Mumbai (Photo: Gandharva Purohit)
Bus conductors in Mumbai found it difficult in the beginning to issue tickets bought through Chalo, but they have now gained confidence as the user base is increasing day by day. From the passengers’ side, the reviews are showing positive growth. As an integrated mobile app that can track buses along with showing the occupancy as well as booking tickets, Chalo has taken ticketing and bus tracking to another level. Once BEST increases its fleet strength, it will help in improving the frequency. In late January, BEST went a step ahead and integratedChalo with the Maharashtra government’s Universal Travel Pass, thus negating the need to carry a printout.
Please Note: This Article is not Sponsored by Chalo.
Featured Image: Chalo App and Card by Gandharva Purohit
If you are stepping out, make sure you wear a mask, follow COVID-appropriate behavior and keep your hands sanitised. Omicron is here and the situation is quite scary.
