Electric Double Decker Bus with App-Based Booking to Join Best Fleet in Mumbai

Two new electric buses, including the country’s first air-conditioned double-decker bus, will join the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) venture’s fleet on Thursday, officials said on Wednesday.

The single-decker electric bus for app-based premium bus service and the double-decker air-conditioned bus will be launched at a function to be held at NCPA in South Mumbai.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other dignitaries will attend the event.

Two books including a coffee table book will be published.

Pictures and videos of black and red double decker bus and blue color single decker bus have gone viral on social media.

According to BEST officials, the makers of the buses will first unveil them at a function near Mantralaya in south Mumbai on Thursday morning and then hand them over to BEST Enterprises.

BEST has awarded a contract to a private company to supply 900 electric buses in phases. Of these, 50 per cent buses are expected to arrive by March 2023 and the remaining 50 per cent after that.

Public transport service provider in Mumbai plans to launch premium app-based public transport in the city.

Officials said that passengers will have to book their seats through the mobile application and they may have to pay a higher fare for this premium service as compared to conventional buses.

BEST is the second largest mode of public transport in Mumbai after suburban trains which carry more than 75 lakh passengers daily. BEST ferrying more than 3 million passengers every day with a fleet of around 3,700 buses.