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The bustling city of Mumbai is facing a critical shortage of BEST buses, the city's public transportation system, as a significant portion of its fleet has been diverted to support election-related duties. With 200 buses allocated to special forces and police for election work, the regular fleet of over 2,900 buses has been reduced to 2,700. This number will further shrink to 2,100 on November 19th and 20th, as an additional 547 buses will be made available for election staff.
The reduced bus availability has resulted in longer wait times for passengers at bus stops, with some reporting delays of 30 to 45 minutes. This problem has been compounded by the recent withdrawal of 280 contractual buses, adding to the existing fleet shortage. Passengers and rights activists are expressing their concerns about the impact this shortage is having on their daily commutes.
BEST union leader Ranga Satavse has pointed out the decline in passenger capacity per bus over the past decade. He highlights a 50% decrease in capacity, indicating a growing mismatch between the demand for public transportation and the available capacity. This situation highlights the need for comprehensive planning and investment in expanding the public transportation infrastructure to meet the growing needs of the city and its residents.
Source: Mumbai Faces BEST Bus Shortage as 200 Buses Deployed for Poll Work