BEST shuttle services likely for Essel World

After the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST) launched its weekend services from the city to Imagica, an amusement park that is located in the suburb of Khopoli, the oldest amusement park in the city Essel World is set to follow suit.

The theme park will present a proposal for the same next month.The undertaking was able to market its air-conditioned buses to Imagica for to and fro trips on Saturday and Sunday, earning the undertaking '30,000 over the weekend. According to senior BEST officials Essel World has lost its patronage over the years after its launch in 1986 with new parks cropping up in and around the city. “There was only one amusement park in the city (Essel World) but now with a lot of similar parks coming up, business has not been the same for them anymore; which is why Essel World has been in talks with us to start services like the ones for Imagica, from main Mumbai to Gorai,” said an official.

The BEST has been trying to get more customers for its air-conditioned buses following public backlash as these buses are prone to breakdowns. This paper in September this year had reported that 56 per cent of air-conditioned buses were sitting idle at bus depots due to breakdowns. Of its 284 air-conditioned buses, the undertaking ran only 124 buses.

BEST general manager Jagdish Patil confirmed that talks were on with Essel World. “Talks are on and we are expecting a proposal from them, but right now it is not possible to tell the exact number of services or what money is expected to come in. The talks are at a very nascent stage and such businesses will help the undertaking to survive,” said Mr Patil.

According to the BEST budget presented to its committee on November 19, the undertaking is projected to earn a profit of only Rs1 lakh for the year 2016-17 with an income of Rs 6,641.52 crore while the expenditure has been estimated to be Rs 6,641.51 crore.