Bus ride gets cheaper in Mumbai, BEST reduces maximum non-AC fare from Rs 34 to Rs 20

Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) on Tuesday decided to slash the bus fares across Mumbai in Maharashtra.

The decision to reduce the bus fares in the metropolis was taken to boost ridership and income.

THE NEW FARES UNDER THE NEW RESOLUTION PLAN DECIDED BY BEST COMMITTEE:

• Upto 5 km: Non-AC Rs 5 | AC Rs 6
• Upto 10 km: Non-AC Rs 10 | AC Rs 13
• Upto 15 km: Non-AC Rs 15 | AC Rs 19
• More than 15 km: Non-AC Rs 20 | AC Rs 25

THE EXISTING BUS FARES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

• 2 km: Non-AC Rs 8 | AC Rs 20
• 6 km: Non-AC Rs 15 | AC Rs 30
• 10 km: Non-AC Rs 22 | AC Rs 40
• 20 km: Non-AC Rs 34 | AC Rs 65

The new fares could be enforced from the first week of July.

Yuva Sena President Aaditya Thackeray took to Twitter in the morning and wrote, "As promised, yesterday we undertook historic reforms in Mumbai's BEST public transport system, making it more comfortable, accessible and affordable for all than anytime earlier."

As promised, yesterday we undertook historic reforms in Mumbai’s BEST public transport system, making it more comfortable, accessible and affordable for all than anytime earlier. This thread will tell you more about the decision taken by the BEST committee (1/n) Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) June 26, 2019

Aaditya Thackeray wrote on Twitter, "From 15 fare slabs, the BEST had brought it down to only four affordable fare slabs, slashing the maximum fare by Rs 42 on the upper end. More so, the passes too have been slashed in prices, making it affordable to all. Essentially in max Rs 20 you can travel as much as you want."

From 15 fare slabs, the BEST had brought it down to only 4 affordable fare slabs, slashing the maximum fare by 42 on the upper end. More so, the passes too have been slashed in prices, making it affordable to all. Essentially in max 20 you can travel as much as you want Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) June 26, 2019

"AC buses will be added to the fleet, more importantly, rides on these buses are extremely affordable too as mentioned earlier in the thread," Aaditya Thackeray added on Twitter.

BEST will soon be inducting 500 emission-free electric buses.

According to sources the new fare proposal will be sent to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for approval and also to the regional transport authority.

The entire process will take a month before the new fares are implemeted.

Congress leader Ravi Raja said, "The decision of fare reduction of BEST bus fare is good decision and I certainly welcome it. But with this decision BEST will suffer loss of Rs 125 crore annually. Hope the administration has plan to help itself financially. Also hope they will run all the routes efficiently now."

The decision of fare reduction of #BESTBus fare is good decision and i certainly welcome it. But with this decision BEST will suffer loss of 125 crores annually, hope administration has plan to help itself financially, also hope they will run all the routes efficiently now. Ravi Raja INC (@ravirajaINC) June 26, 2019

BEST aims to increase its total fleet size to around 6,000 buses and also aims to get around 50 lakh passenger in its fold.

At the peak of its performance, reports suggest that BEST used to carry around 40 lakh people daily. But today, owing to erratic frequency, the number has come down to around 25 lakh daily.

BEST officials hope, with the new fares, it would again be able to regain commuters which it lost to autos and taxis in Mumbai.