BEST receives first lot of Tejaswini buses exclusively for women

The buses will be coloured yellow instead of the traditional red buses; routes being planned

Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses parked at the Wadala depot in Mumbai. File

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) has received three new buses under the Tejaswini Scheme of the Maharashtra government.

Under the scheme, public sector bus transport utilities are given a grant to purchase buses purely for women commuters. “We have received three buses, which are currently at our Dharavi depot. We expect to get 34 more by month end and simultaneously completing formalities to get the buses on road,” Manoj Varade, BEST spokesperson, said.

The BEST has received a grant of ₹11.50 crore to purchase 37 diesel buses, which approximately cost around ₹30 lakh each. The buses will be coloured yellow instead of the traditional red buses of the BEST.

BEST officials said that they were still working out the routes for the buses but added that the buses are tentatively planned during peak hours in key business districts such as Nariman Point and Bandra Kurla Complex.

“During peak hours there is a high women passenger count in these areas and hence the idea is to first roll it out there,” a senior BEST official said.