The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) is expanding its fleet to 24 electric double-decker buses, surpassing its conventional counterparts for the first time. After a brief hiatus, BEST is now ready to deploy ten fresh electric buses for public service once the mandatory RTO registration and formalities are completed.
The recent surge in electric buses comes as a result of scrapping older conventional buses, lowering their numbers to below 20. With a current fleet size of 3,100 vehicles, BEST employs wet lease arrangements with private contractors handling fuel, maintenance, and driver salaries.
Switch Mobility, a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland, secured a contract to supply BEST with 200 double-decker electric buses. However, the delivery pace faced initial setbacks, with only two buses arriving by March, followed by an additional 12 buses in May. Out of these, ten buses were promptly introduced for passenger service in June, but the remaining two buses sat parked at the Colaba depot for nearly two months before RTO registration.
A BEST official expressed that the timing of these new electric buses could have been more opportune if introduced during the summer when demand for air-conditioned travel is at its peak. Nevertheless, the extended fleet of electric double-decker buses is a significant stride towards a greener and more sustainable future for public transportation in Mumbai.
