Last week the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM/BMC) announced a ₹750 crore financial package for the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking as part of its annual budget for 2021-2022.
MCGM also announced that it will appoint a consultant to introduce reforms within the undertaking in order to improve efficiency and improve ridership. BEST had received an allocation of ₹918 crore in the previous year.
Among the initiatives proposed under the budget, BEST will modernise its bus depots, implement an intelligent transport system, focus on improving commuter experiences and also procure more buses on the wet-lease model.
Let’s hope BEST goes forward with its plans.
To know more about depot modernisation and how it works, do read this article I had written in 2017 about the Dindoshi Depot’s plan by WRI.
To know more about intelligent transit systems, do check out this 2016 article about the World Bank-funded ITS implemented in Mysore, Karnataka.
A sneak peak at BMTC’s and MCTD’s ITS
While Bangalore’s implementation was lacklusture, Mysore did a good job that could work out as a great role model across the country.
Featured image: Bandra East Bus Station, clicked by me in 2015.
