Mumbai: In a respite for office goers in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), hybrid buses will start operations by mid-March, said Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development authority MMRDA officials. Around 20 buses will start service by mid-March and will be operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST). Last year around 10 out of 25 buses were procured, now all the buses, except two, are likely to hit the roads.
The buses will ply between BKC, Bandra, Kurla and Sion railway stations. The service is especially for the office-goers who travel from BKC to railway stations daily. Hassle for BEST buses and auto rickshaws is likely to minimise for the office goers once the Hybrid buses are out on roads.
“All the buses are in, except two buses out of the 25, which will be brought shortly. The registration of 20 buses is completed. Twenty buses will start service by this month,” said a senior MMRDA official. The buses were purchased from Tata Motors Ltd, and each bus has cost around Rs 1.61 crore. Once operational, the minimum fare is expected to be 15 while maximum can reach up to Rs 25.
Meanwhile, the BEST authorities are still waiting for the nod of MMRDA, which has not handed over any bus to the BEST. “Once they hand over the buses, we can start the services immediately. Drivers and other staff are ready and trained to operate,” Hanumant Gophane, Public Relation Officer for BEST.
