Nearly four years after it got is first batch of electric buses (Goldstone non-AC buses at the Backbay Depot), the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking last week (7 August, BEST Divas), rolled out its latest buses. Full length, electric, air-conditioned buses are finally here as part of the fleet.
BEST has been experimenting with several buses over the last four years, particularly in the air-conditioned fleet. Today the fleet consists of Tata Starbus Diesel-Hybrid full-length buses, Force Smart Citibus Diesel mini-buses, Tata Marcopolo CNG midi-buses, Tata Ultra Electric Midi-buses, Olectra electric Midi-buses and now Tata Ultra Electric full-length buses.
The new lot of buses will be attached to the Backbay Depot in South Bombay and Dharavi Depot in mid-town. Two buses were flagged off on 6th August. The routes are A-115 from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus to NCPA via Churchgate and A-116 from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus to NCPA via the Reserve Bank of India and Museum (Dr Shyamaprasad Mookherjee Chowk).
Here are a few pictures of the buses:
Here is an older picture of the buses being transported from Tata Motors’ factory in Hubli, Karnataka.
Here’s to an electrifying future for BEST!
I’d like to thank Rupak Dhakate, Gandharva Purohit, and Vishal Naik for their inputs.
If you intend to step out please wear a mask, carry sanitizer and maintain social distancing.
Good buses. However they will only ply in Mumbai routes, not corridor routes. Even if they do so, people prefer Volvo over tata because they are more comfortable and safe compared to any AC city bus. But I felt that best would earn profit if they reduced the fares. Why can’t they try atleast Volvo buses ? They could try them in corridor routes, and earn greater profits. On the non AC part, I would say that they are just scrapping buses and not doing replacement for the fleet. However rickety and dirty they are, they were needed badly during the lockdown. Mumbai badly needs buses. BEST should really try buying at least 150 Volvos in their fleet.
Thank you !
Hi, Volvo buses won’t be happening. Volvo has exited the Indian market.
Good buses. However they will only ply in Mumbai routes, not corridor routes. Even if they do so, people prefer Volvo over tata because they are more comfortable and safe compared to any AC city bus. But I felt that best would earn profit if they reduced the fares. Why can’t they try atleast Volvo buses ? They could try them in corridor routes, and earn greater profits. On the non AC part, I would say that they are just scrapping buses and not doing replacement for the fleet. However rickety and dirty they are, they were needed badly during the lockdown. Mumbai badly needs buses. BEST should really try buying at least 150 Volvos in their fleet.
Thank you !
Hi Srikanth. Can you write a mast article on how mad the conditions of best. No wonder NMMT is better than best and more modern, it has less fleet. However that’s enough for a small city like navi Mumbai. What about best ? Some of my friends have given a new full form for BEST :(Bhakhwaas Erratic Stupid Trash) and it really is. Non AC is better, but they are unhygienic. That’s OK, however. But best is so backward, I think that’s why drivers were looking at the GPS system and not driving properly. Also, for their ac fleet, It has only small buses. They don’t at least buy Scania buses, which are much cheaper compared to Volvo. Yet, they buy less agile Tata buses(are always weak) and that only ply them on Mumbai routes!!! WTH? NMMT even plys their AC buses in their city limits. That too Volvo! Why can best try Scania ? But now I am tired. BEST will never improve. They had a lot of chances of improving, but they went only in their so called legendary rickety buses. They will lose and NMMT will win. I hope you agree to this. But however, please a write a nice article on how good NMMT is and how bad BEST is.
Thank you !!!
Hi, you can read Yash’s article on this:
BEST Has A Problem That Needs To Be Solved, Writes A Transit Fan