BEST to go green with new electric buses, literally
The cost of each bus will be Rs 1.61 crore. BEST might launch around six of these in Mumbai and would mostly run between Kurla station to BKC.
Mumbai: Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport’s (BEST) colourful experiment seems to have bolstered confidence in its creativity as it has planned to procure six brand new electric buses, probably white in colour. However, it might re-colour the hybrid buses a possible parrot green. The cost of each bus will be Rs 1.61 crore. BEST might launch around six of these in Mumbai and would mostly run between Kurla station to BKC.
The buses can also be operated on diesel. The battery of these hybrid buses would have to be changed after four years and would cost the undertaking a little over Rs 50 crores.
Although BEST has been facing opposition from the public over experimenting with bus colours from the signature signal—red to white, it has also been considering chaging its hybrid colours. An official said, “The play with colours is more about having our own identity than following what our colonisers have given us.” The official said that parrot green colour is being considered for hybrid buses that have been procured by the undertaking. He added, “The point is to make the electric buses in Mumbai our very own identity, something the undertaking and the city will be identified by and the green colour because the buses are environment friendly.”
BEST that scrapped its air—conditioned buses from April 17 after incurring losses up to Rs 82 crores per year, inducted 75 of 303 low floor, technologically equipped Tata buses on April 25.
Put to immediate effect
The trial of white and yellow buses, which were run today, will last for 6-months. Officials said that non—air—conditioned buses will change routes every three days. This experiment will last for six months and the undertaking hopes in taking commuters’ feedback before making the change permanent or bringing changes in the colour—scheme after the feedback. The non air-conditioned bus is currently playing from Gateway to CST. BEST is considering getting feedback via a form on its website. Students from J.J. school of Arts will collect commuters’ reviews. Commuters can also email the feedback to probestundertaking@gmail.com.