Mumbai: Double-decker fleet to shrink by 20 per cent; no sign of procuring new buses soon
Mumbai News: According to a Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport official, tenders had been floated in November 2020 to procure 100 new double-decker buses.
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Mumbai: Double-decker bus service which once plied the city roads has reduced to 60 per cent. According to a senior Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) committee member Sunil Ganacharya, it will further shrink by 20 per cent. He is planning to raise the concern with the BEST authority on Wednesday as out of all double-decker buses, only 41 will ply on city roads.
As per The Times of India report, the BEST administration has no plans to get new buses soon. Earlier in February-March, the number has been reduced to 51 from 120, which will further drop to 41 as 10 other buses will be phased out soon.
According to a BEST official, “Some of the 10 buses will be sent for scrap, while others may be given away for tourism purposes,” was quoted as saying TOI. The official also added that the plan was to get 100 new buses with the latest BS-6 diesel engines and automatic transmission for ease of driving.
The report also suggests that the new double-decker buses will have two doors and two staircases for passengers' safety.
The BEST committee member Ganacharya noted that the administration has given assurance of delivering news buses soon, but it has got delayed.
Another BEST committee panel member Anil Kokil said that it was 'painful' to see fewer double-decker buses on Mumbai's road. Kokil also adds that, “They have good carrying capacity and are a favourite with several Mumbaikars. Shiv Sena will push for the early procurement of new buses as they also cater to many busy routes."
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