Ambiguity over who will inaugurate a hybrid electric air-conditioned bus service from Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) has resulted in 15 brand new buses lying unused for three months at various Brihanamumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) depots.
The buses, costing ₹1.67 crore each, were procured by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and handed over to BEST to operate the service.
According to BEST officials, starting the service is up to the MMRDA, since it owns the buses. MMRDA officials, however, said they don’t have any plans to inaugurate the service, and the onus is on BEST.
Registration delay
BEST received the buses from MMRDA in three batches of five, the first of which arrived in September. The vehicles have since been gathering dust at Anik, Dharavi and Kurla depots. BEST officials have said the registration process with the Regional Transport Office (RTO) took around two months, because there was confusion as to who should be given the permit. The last set of registration was completed around 15 days ago.
“MMRDA are the owners, while we have the rights to ply the buses. Hence, it took some time to decide who should undertake the registration process,” said a BEST official.
But MMRDA officials said the registration process has long been completed.
Dilip Kawatkar, MMRDA joint project director (public relations), said, “We have completed the registration of 15 buses. The remaining 10 buses have arrived, and we will start the registration process from Monday.”
Anil Kokil, BEST committee chairman, said that if the buses are ready, the BEST administration should start the service. “We hope the MMRDA gives it to us in writing that the services can start. Until now, the committee has not received any intimation about the service from the BEST administration.”
Financial arrangement
The two agencies have agreed to run the service on a no-profit, no-loss basis. If the service runs at a loss then the MMRDA will bridge the deficit, while BEST will pay MMRDA if any profits are made. Mr. Kokil said, “It is also the request of the committee that the MMRDA should allow BEST to retain the profits, if any, until such time that BEST’s financial health is stable.”
MMRDA has procured hybrid electric 25 buses at a cost for ₹1.67 crore each. The buses will run on diesel and electric power. The BEST intends to ply these 32-seat AC buses from BKC to Sion, Bandra and Kurla railway stations. While the fare is yet to be decided, tickets are expected to be in the range of ₹15 to ₹25.
