Latest news with #BEST
NDTV
3 days ago
- NDTV
Mumbai's BEST Announces Bus Route Revamp, New AC Services: Check Details
Mumbai: Mumbai's public transport is set to get a major boost as Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) revamps 30 bus routes and launches new AC services from June 1. These changes aim to improve connectivity with Mumbai Metro Line 3 and make commuting easier for passengers. Major Route Redesign Launch of new AC bus services. Renumbering of existing routes. Introducing new routes for better connectivity. Changes in timetables to suit commuter demand. New AC Bus Services Launched Several new AC routes have been introduced to provide comfortable travel options: A-8: Mantralaya to Shivaji Nagar Terminus (8:05 AM to 10:50 PM). A-44: Upgraded from route 44, running Kala Chowki to Worli Depot. A-125: Navy Nagar to Worli Depot via Mohammed Ali Road. A-241: Santacruz to Malvani. A-175: Circular route from Pratiksha Nagar Depot to Prabhodhankar Thackeray Udyan via Antop Hill, Wadala Church, and Khodadad Circle. A-490: Mantralaya to Balkum, Thane (East) via Eastern Express Highway. Other AC services include routes 243, 343, 344, 347, 452, 459, 602, and 626 covering key suburbs and transit hubs like Malad, Goregaon, Mulund, and Pawai. Changes To Existing Routes Route 456, previously an AC route, has been converted into a regular circular route 456. Route 25 has been renumbered as route 29, running from Prabhodhankar Thackeray Udyan to Vihar Sarovar. Route 11 Limited is now diverted via Lalbaug flyover between Byculla Station and Parel, bypassing stops at Jijamata Udyan, Jai Hind Cinema, and Lalbaug. Integration With Mumbai Metro Line 3 This route rationalisation aligns with BEST's plan to improve last-mile connectivity with the Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line), particularly as its second phase (BKC to Worli Naka) is set to launch soon. The Metro's final phase (Cuffe Parade) is also expected shortly. BEST plans to add 29 buses on 17 routes for Metro Phase II. Another 50 buses will be added on 30 routes for Phase III. These buses will follow ring-route patterns linking metro stations, suburban rail hubs, and commercial centres. Benefits For Commuters Reduced average wait times by up to 15 minutes due to route optimisation and increased service frequency. Enhanced feeder services to the metro system and better connectivity across Mumbai suburbs. Introduction of more AC buses on high-demand routes during peak hours for improved comfort. Fare Revision BEST, Mumbai's second-largest public transport operator with a fleet of around 2,800 buses serving over 30 lakh passengers daily, is facing a financial crunch. Revenues have dropped below Rs 700 crore in recent years, PTI reported. To improve financial health, BEST has proposed a fare revision: Doubling minimum fare for first 5 km travel. Removal of fare caps of Rs 20 (non-AC) and Rs 25 (AC) for journeys beyond 20 km. Expected additional annual revenue of Rs 590 crore from revised fares. The fare revision awaits approval from the Mumbai civic body and the Regional Transport Authority. BEST administration has urged passengers to review all new route changes and timings in advance through the official BEST website or mobile app. Commuters are advised to plan their travel accordingly to avoid inconvenience.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
BEST conductors grapple with paucity of loose change
Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking has been grappling with complaints from conductors regarding the paucity of loose change since bus fares were hiked on May 9. The shortage has forced conductors to issue more credit notes to passengers than earlier, pushing up the daily average of credit notes from ₹700 to ₹1,100, said sources. The problem is especially acute in airconditioned buses plying on short-distance ring routes, wherein the fare was hiked from ₹6 to ₹12, the sources added. 'Earlier, when passengers on ring routes paid us ₹10, we would have to return ₹5 in case of non-AC buses and ₹4 in case of AC buses,' a BEST conductor told Hindustan Times. 'But after the hike in minimum fare to ₹10 for non-AC buses and ₹12 for AC buses, we must return ₹8 or ₹10, which is a major problem due to the shortage of loose change.' BEST conductors are provided coins worth ₹125 everyday for several years now, said BEST sources. But far more ₹20 coins and notes are in circulation compared to ₹10 coins and notes, which is compounding the problem, said BEST union members. 'I myself have received several complaints about passengers arguing with conductors regarding returning loose change,' said BEST union leader Subhash Samant. As per standard practice, when conductors do not have loose change, they write the amount payable to passengers on the backside of their tickets. These 'credit notes' must be encashed at the BEST depot in Wadala and it is not possible to use them to pay for other bus journeys, said sources in BEST. 'There is a need to decentralise the disbursal of credit notes so that passengers don't spend extra to collect their own money, which at times could be lesser than the amount spent on travelling to Wadala depot,' said a BEST official. According to figures from BEST, between May 1 and May 8, BEST issued credit notes worth ₹5,746. But from May 9, when fares were hiked, till May 20, credit notes worth ₹12,621 were issued by conductors. 'The BEST administration should have thought about these issues prior to increasing fares. They should have spoken to banks for dispensing more coins,' said a commuter who did not wish to be identified. Meanwhile, the use of Chalo cards for purchasing tickets is slowly picking up, with 15-20% passengers using the cards now.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
BEST to rejig 30 routes from June 1
MUMBAI: Starting June 1, BEST is all set to rejig its bus schedules. A total of 30 bus routes plying in South Mumbai and the eastern and western suburbs will undergo changes—some buses will be short-terminated on some routes, some non-AC buses will be converted to AC and new routes will be added. 'Based on passenger feedback and operational challenges, a review of bus operations was conducted, and the necessary operational changes will be implemented from June 1,' said a BEST official. 'As part of this update, some new bus routes will be introduced and modifications will be made to certain existing routes.' Sources said that the popular route AC-10 from Backbay Depot to Rani Laxmibai Chowk in Sion will now take a detour from Museum via Hutatma Chowk, Bhendi Bazaar and Mazagaon instead of the existing route via P D'Mello Road connecting Dockyard Road. Local residents are not very happy about this. Another bus route, 11 Ltd, from Navy Nagar to Bandra, will take the Lalbaug flyover and will not halt at three bus stops previously on its route. Route A-25, connecting Kurla Depot in the eastern suburbs with Backbay, will now be curtailed at Sion. Another interesting change is in Route 56 connecting Versova and Worli Depot. Sources in BEST said that on Sundays, the route would have an AC bus while on weekdays it would be non-AC. 'We are trying to reduce the kilometre run of long-distance bus routes, which don't have much footfall,' explained a BEST official. 'It's a way to rationalise our fleet and reduce fuel costs.' For instance, Route 79 from Gorai to Santacruz will now run on the Charkop-Santacruz route. BEST is also introducing new bus routes and converting non-AC buses to AC ones based on the demand. There is a new A-490 AC bus connecting Mantralaya and Thane Balkum while a new ring route bus A-175 will ply on Pratiksha Nagar, Antop Hill, Wadala, Khodadad Circle and Portuguese Church. At present, BEST operates 430 bus routes from its fleet of 2,600-odd buses. Of the total bus routes, 70% or so connect railway stations and residential societies and commercial offices through ring routes while the remaining are long-distance routes of more than 25 km.
Mint
27-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Olectra Greentech share price slumps as Maharashtra Minister cancels E-Bus tender
Olectra Greentech share price dropped by more than 12% during Tuesday's trading session after Maharashtra's Transport Minister, Pratap Sarnaik, instructed officials to annul the tender granted to the company due to its failure to adhere to delivery schedules. Sarnaik stated on his social media account on "X," without specifically mentioning Olectra, that the company had been inactive regarding the supply of 5,150 leased buses and that he has instructed officials to take steps to terminate the agreement. This decision was made on Monday evening following a meeting at the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) headquarters, as per reports. The minister also mentioned that a new timeline was provided to Olectra for delivering 1,000 buses by May 22, but the company failed to deliver even one bus, which raises concerns about the company's ability to fulfill future deliveries. "As a result, the decision was made to terminate the tender agreement with the company," the minister stated on "X." Nonetheless, it's important to highlight that Olectra Greentech has yet to release any official statements regarding the cancellation of the order. As per a report by PTI, EveyTrans Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Olectra Greentech, was contracted in May 2022 to deliver 2,100 electric buses to the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) using a wet lease model over the course of a year. The company representative informed PTI that to date, 536 buses have been supplied to BEST. In the wet lease model, private companies not only provide drivers to run the buses but also take responsibility for their upkeep, which means BEST does not have to buy the buses outright. Notably, even though Olectra Greentech has not met the required delivery targets, it received another contract in April 2024 for the supply of an additional 2,400 electric buses, as per PTI report. Olectra Greentech share price today opened at ₹ 1,234.95 apiece on the BSE, the stock touched an intraday high of ₹ 1,288, and an intraday low of ₹ 1,180 per share. Anshul Jain, Head of Research at Lakshmishree Investments said that Olectra Greentech share price is forming a bullish 40-day cup and handle pattern with a breakout pivot at 1,312. The recent knee-jerk reaction was well-supported at 1,253, erasing negative sentiment and reaffirming bullish strength. With the base structure intact and momentum returning, a move past 1,315 looks likely. The stock is expected to test 1,518, which aligns with the weekly swing high and the pattern's breakout target, offering a strong risk-reward setup. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Maharashtra transport minister orders cancelling MSRTCs Rs 10,000 crore e-bus contract over missed deadlines
Maharashtra Transport Minister and Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) Chairman, Pratap Sarnaik, on Monday ordered the termination of the wet lease contract awarded to Olectra Greentech Ltd and Evey Trans Pvt Ltd for supplying 5,150 electric buses to the state-run public transport agency. The decision was made citing the companies' failure to meet delivery deadlines and repeated delays in supplying the e-buses. In July 2023, MSRTC had awarded one of the world's largest electric bus supply contracts, valued at Rs 10,000 crore, to Olectra Greentech Ltd and Evey Trans Pvt Ltd, both subsidiaries of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd, to expand its fleet. The agreement required delivery of the buses over a 24-month period starting November 2023, with a target of 215 buses per month. According to the initial terms of the contract, the consortium was expected to deliver over 4,000 buses by May 2025. The contract was later revised, reducing the delivery target to 1,000 buses by the same date. However, as of now, the consortium has delivered only 240 buses. 'There is doubt about the company's ability to supply buses in the future. Since the corporation urgently needs buses, if the company cannot fulfill its delivery obligations, the tender contract should be cancelled. At a time when MSRTC is in dire need of vehicles, the company's failure to meet deadlines is unacceptable,' said Sarnaik during a review meeting at MSRTC headquarters. The consortium has stated that it has not yet received any official communication from the government regarding cancellation of the contract. 'We have not received any such notice from MSRTC. We remain committed to delivering pollution-free, comfortable, and economical public transportation solutions, namely Olectra e-buses, to our esteemed client MSRTC,'the company Olectra said in its statement. So far, MSRTC has issued seven show-cause notices to the consortium and imposed penalties totaling approximately Rs 4 crore for breaches of contract and delays in timely delivery. The company had previously cited global supply chain disruptions—particularly the import of lithium-ion battery cells from China, which constitute nearly 50% of the bus cost, as the primary reason for the delays. While the chassis and bus bodies are manufactured domestically, dependency on imported components has hampered production. The consortium's poor delivery record is not limited to MSRTC. It has also failed to meet commitments made to the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking. In May 2022, BEST had awarded the company a contract to supply 2,100 electric buses within a year. However, over the past three years, only 578 buses have been delivered. 'Currently, 100 buses per month are being delivered to BEST. In the past four months, more than 300 buses have been supplied, and the company aims to complete the 2,100-bus contract within this financial year,' a company spokesperson said. The delay has significantly hampered MSRTC's efforts toward financial recovery and fleet modernization. Serving over 5.3 million passengers daily, MSRTC operates one of India's largest inter-city bus networks and relies heavily on state support to cover expenses, including salaries for over 90,000 employees. 'Owing to the delays and non-performance, the minister has ordered the immediate cancellation of the contract with the consortium. The corporation is now exploring legal options to recover damages and is seeking alternative suppliers to meet its electrification targets,' said a senior MSRTC official.
