A Ride around with BEST Bus
- Sanjana Mallya
- Mar 11
- 8 min read
Introduction: My Personal Connect
Ever since I can remember, I loved travelling by the BEST buses in Mumbai. It stands for Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport. These are Mumbai corporation-run buses providing efficient public transportation in the city.
My family members have always preferred this mode of transport. Visiting from Dubai, accustomed to travelling in cars, I had never understood its appeal - until I was old enough to travel by myself.
My grandfather had immense knowledge of the bus numbers, the extent of their routes across the city, and their frequencies. Looking back, I realize that was such an admirable skill. As an adult using the BEST bus services, I depend on the Chalo app - to check the routes and the connectivity.
I still remember how sometimes, I would take the buses with longer routes to sit by the window and enjoy the breeze, the view, and my ever-changing moods! I still love doing this.
Experiencing My First Sips of Independence with BEST Buses:
After shifting to Mumbai for higher education, I learned to use the bus services to travel from my school to home. There was a direct route from the BARC colony to my home - bus no 399, which was a trusty companion as I learned to navigate the bus services. Many years later, when I visited my friend in the same colony, I used that bus to reach home - rekindling fond memories.
Even as a young person, I noticed how cost-effective these services were. Eventually, I also got used to the idea of connecting buses. I became familiar with different routes and roamed the city on my own terms. It was my safe space and my sense of adventure as I acquainted myself with the city. With these experiences, I got my first taste of independence, which cultivated my sense of exploration.
Getting to Know the BEST Buses:
The extents of these bus routes span an average of 25 km - ranging from 3 km to 45 km. Mumbai is a vast and varied city - in terms of geographical extent, traffic, land use, demography, and population densities, these buses shoulder the responsibilities of transporting a huge part of the population from one extent of the city to the other, safely and economically.
The starting fare for BEST buses is now ₹5 for a distance of 5 km. With the introduction of the Chalo app, these fares can also be paid digitally.
The bus services operate from approximately 5 am until midnight. These timings help ensure safe streets and provide convenient transportation in Mumbai. The routes are comprehensive, covering major express highways, link roads, inner roads, and alleys in residential areas. This enables a diverse group of users from various locations to easily access these services.
The Chalo app has become a blessing in disguise for BEST bus users. It has been designed to convey the estimated arrival time, available seating, and the location of nearby buses. This data can help the user make informed decisions - whether they want to get into the bus, or take the next one. While the app has its shortcomings, it's rare. Sometimes, the users get to go on an unexpected bus, which can turn out to be a pleasant surprise.
The Role of BEST Buses in Mumbai:
1 - As an integrated transport system: BEST buses are an essential component of last-mile connectivity in the city. They are connected to the railway stations, highways, neighbourhoods and metro networks. Their affordable ticket prices enable even those from lower-income households to use these services regularly.
2 - Alleviating traffic congestion: These buses can transport around 60 passengers in a single-decker bus, around 90 in a double-decker bus, and 40 in a midi bus. In contrast, the addition of these many private vehicles like cars or bikes contributes to increased road congestion.
3 - Reducing carbon footprint: Shared transportation systems reduce the carbon footprint to just one vehicle, rather than increasing them extensively to many private vehicles.
The BEST bus culture: Management, Accessibility and Inclusion
Role of Drivers and Conductors:
The drivers and conductors play a key role in shaping the BEST transport experiences for commuters. The driver has a strenuous job navigating the cluttered and congested Mumbai traffic, ensuring people around the bus are safe. They also overlook the safety of those who rush to get off the bus when it's moving, or in a zone that can be dangerous to alight.
Conductors oversee the activities of the bus and aid the driver when necessary. Their role is diverse, involving crowd management, ticket issuance to passengers, and ensuring their safety and compliance. If a problem arises with the bus, they are responsible for safely disembarking the passengers.
The conductors have a keen way of instructing the crowd to keep moving ahead - pudhe chala, aage badho. Incidentally, my grandmother would always remind me - "Listen to what the conductor says, always keep moving ahead". That's some BEST wisdom right there!
Accessibility:
A commuter boards the bus from the back access and alights from the front access. The conductor usually looks out for those boarding into the bus, and the driver, for those alighting off it. However, people with disability and the elderly can require extra time to board the bus. Hence, they can do so from the front access (near the driver).
Around 6 seats - double occupancy is reserved for women on the right side rows. Similarly, around 4 seats are reserved for people with disability and senior citizens, on the left side. These locations are preferred as it is easier to reach the front access to alight.
The Iconic Best Bus Characteristics:
Visual Appeal:
When you think of the BEST buses, they stand out visually with their appealing BRIGHT RED colour. You can also hear their signature honks loud and clear.
I have cherished memories of travelling by BEST bus - whether i was boarding a bus from a far-off origin that would take me directly home, or the times I'd get to sit by the window in an empty bus or getting my connecting bus in record time. In Mumbai, when you get your mode of transportation BEFORE your usual time, it's as if you now have extra time in your hands - feels like stolen moments.
The buses nowadays seem to blend into the dull traffic. Unlike earlier, the bus design would stand out. It used to be one of those iconographies that Mumbai identified with.
Double Decker Buses:
I used to love travelling by the double-decker buses. Whenever I'd visit CSMT station, I'd look for the bus, and get in as it was an origin point. I'd go and sit on the top deck to enjoy the views. There's nothing more enjoyable than feeling like you're flying over the city - especially at night.
Now these double-deckers have shifted into a shiny, EV appearance. With many ongoing infrastructure projects, their routes have been cancelled/ re-routed. So, these buses are not a common occurrence in the city.
Ticket Appearances:
In the past, ticket stubs were issued manually. These were ready-made with the amount already printed on the stub. Each fare was coloured differently. However, the tickets are now issued through a digital printer, where the conductor inputs the origin and destination. The device then prints out the ticket, including the fare, the date and related information.
The conductors are particular about the payment and change. Therefore one remembers to tender exact change while travelling on the bus. Additionally, the Chalo app enables passengers to purchase their tickets through the app, with a scanner code.
The BEST Bus Stops:
The architecture of BEST bus stops has developed over time, and recently, there has been a willingness to experiment with new designs for compactness and functional efficiency. Given the vastness of Mumbai, different bus stop variants are required in different locations.
Each design is developed for an integrated, yet compact user experience. When I was younger, I recall the bus stops featuring horizontal bars. These designs were meant to naturally form queues. However, when a bus stop was empty or had numerous buses, these horizontal bars served as seating spaces.
Points of Concern:
There have been some unfavourable changes in recent years. These include:
As a result of numerous major infrastructure projects, the original routes of many best buses have been either cancelled, shortened, or redirected. Unfortunately, no measures have been taken to adapt to this change, compelling commuters to walk several stops to catch another bus or wait at bus stops on hazardous highways. With limited alternatives, individuals are left to handle this disruption independently.
As routes are cancelled, there have been reports of bus fleets being reduced. This results in an increased waiting period, as buses with alternative routes are no longer available.
With overcrowding, the buses physically lean to the side - endangering not just the passengers, but also the vehicles and pedestrians around.
Navigating through unruly and rushed traffic can stress out bus drivers, which is an unsafe state for driving.
The infrastructure of BEST bus depots has not seen noticeable upgrades in recent years. This may negatively impact the thorough and consistent maintenance of buses and the availability of adequate facilities (toilets, canteens, electricity) for bus drivers, conductors, and other BEST staff.
Many flyovers have prohibited the movement of BEST buses, faster routes for these services
Key Considerations to Improve Current Scenario:
Stress mitigation avenues for best bus drivers and conductors
Ensuring that the funds allocated for BEST services are received and prioritized to improve their services
Increasing the bus fleets to accommodate the population
Sturdy and durable bus stop infrastructure - for waiting, boarding and alighting
Improving the infrastructure for bus depots - adding intermediate bus depots for bus maintenance.
Experimenting with bus designs to include easy accessibility for people with disabilities
Restructuring existing routes and adding new routes to improve connectivity with the newly established highways and flyovers
Noticeable Gaps:
Perspective Towards Overall Wellbeing: Mumbai is a bustling city, and the general culture often lacks awareness or the means to prioritize time for health and well-being. Embracing well-being is essential and should be integrated into the collective culture. Taking breaks, pausing, or setting aside time for ourselves is the most effective way to recharge our overall health.
Governance influences the overall functioning of any region. This includes fair compensation, time limitations for minimum wage jobs, and other necessities.
Is the budget for the BEST organization being ethically used to improve the services and pay fair wages to their employees?
Shift in Aspirations: While many view owning a car as a vital luxury and convenience, public transport is not limited to those with lower incomes. By shifting our perspective to view public transport as a shared network, we can recognize the best buses as opportunities to promote sustainable transportation, social responsibility, and a way to reduce our carbon footprint.
Final Thoughts:
Advocating for BEST buses is essential, as their well-structured and convenient services play a key role in improving movement across the city. However, a lack of funding and the prioritization of roadway projects over improving public transport systems have negatively impacted their operations. Strengthening and restructuring the BEST network is crucial—not only to ease traffic congestion but also to support a healthier, more sustainable, and breathable future by reducing the city's carbon footprint.