BEST news

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) is to make a grand addition of 700 new buses to its existing fleet by the end of June. The upgradation comes after central government approved a Rs 205.76 crore grant for BEST under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The addition will not only make travelling better for Mumbaikars but will also help BEST to expand its existing services to Mira Road, Bhayandar and Thane. Uttam Khobragade, general manager of BEST said, “We had submitted a detailed report to the centre for a Rs 300 crore grant. It was one of the crucial projects for changing the transportation scenario of the city.” With the state government allowing BEST to ply within Mumbai Metropolitan Region (which includes areas like Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayandar, Ambarnath and Ulhasnagar) and planning a special bus route under Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) for the city, new buses were the need of the hour. “Of the 700 new buses 140 will be low floor air-conditioned buses. We will propose the new routes in the upcoming committee meeting,” Khobragade added. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport has also received Rs 41.92 crore grant under JNNURM to buy 150 new buses.