BEST should use money from fare hike to buy 1,000 CNG buses, says think tank

Time of India

18-05-2025

The recent increase in BEST ticket prices, which resulted in doubling of minimum distance fares for AC and non-AC buses, is expected to add Rs 1 crore daily to the revenue of the undertaking. Transport analysts from the
Mumbai Mobility Forum
(MMF), a think tank, this week petitioned BEST demanding addition of 1,000 CNG buses to the fleet in the coming weeks. They highlighted that each CNG bus can be acquired for less than Rs 1 crore compared to the significantly higher cost of e-buses.
'It is projected that this move will enhance frequency and alleviate the ongoing bus shortage, improve frequency and reduce wait at stops. This step is viewed as crucial for BEST to retain its customer base and daily ridership,' said Ashok Datar from the forum.
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The current BEST fleet of around 2,800 buses caters to 33 lakh to 35 lakh passengers daily across Mumbai and neighbouring Thane and Navi Mumbai.
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'CNG buses offer a substantial cost advantage, timely delivery, and match seamlessly with the existing infrastructure that can accommodate up to 4,000 buses within Mumbai,' said Datar.
He said that such a procurement would ensure an increased number of buses on the roads as the fleet had gone below the 3,000 mark last year and further below 2,800 buses early this year.
Toay, commuters have to wait at stops for as long as 30 to 40 minutes. 'In the absence of buses arriving at the stops, the commuters may opt for share autos whose fares are at par with the revised bus fares. This could be detrimental to BEST. So in a way, if the bus strength goes up due to the CNG buses, the frequency will be maintained on busy routes and commuters will get buses on time, and refuse to migrate to other modes of transport,' said a transport analyst.
A source in Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) said that BEST's CNG infrastructure spans 15 depots, with the current capacity to fuel over 4,000 buses each day. 'Currently, BEST has around 1,900 CNG buses in its fleet and can readily accommodate 2,100 more with the available infrastructure. They can procure these additional CNG buses and operate them efficiently,' said the MGL.
CNG buses have demonstrated consistent reliability and safety in Mumbai's urban transport for several years. According to Datar, CNG buses can be purchased for Rs 65 lakh in contrast to electric buses, which may cost up to Rs 1.6 crore.
'I am not against e-buses, but the last year has seen delivery delays causing continued shortages in the fleet. BEST can accelerate the procurement of CNG buses, which are environmentally friendly as well as straightforward to operate and maintain. At least 1,000 CNG buses should be added to the fleet,' said Datar.
Another member of the forum said there was a need to have a pragmatic mix of CNG, electric, and other-fuel-run buses. BEST officials said they were planning a 100% electric fleet for the future and around 8,000 bus fleet in the next two to three years.
Unless the electricity is sourced from renewables, net carbon emissions remain unaddressed. In contrast, CNG buses are virtually non-polluting, cost a third as much and are simpler to maintain.
Transport activists are against full transition to electric buses. In several instances, electric buses cannot complete the 180 km daily requirement. After completing 60% of their journeys, recharging is needed, forcing buses off the roads, which is undesirable.
In such cases, the buses would be idle at the depots for recharging while passenger wait would increase at the stops it caters to, said the activists.