October 22nd 2024.
The transportation system in Mumbai is in a dire state as the waiting times for buses have reached an all-time high, especially during rush hour. Currently, there are less than 3,000 operational buses on the roads, with only 2,926 running as of Tuesday. This includes the wet lease vehicles that have been brought in to supplement the fleet.
The situation has worsened due to a recent incident where a wet lease supplier decided to withdraw 280 buses from service on October 12th, further straining the already overburdened system. BEST, the organization responsible for Mumbai's bus services, is struggling to meet the demands of the 3.5 million passengers who rely on their buses daily.
Sources reveal that BEST Undertaking has not paid crores of rupees to one of their contractors, which has led to the contractor's decision to withdraw the 280 buses. The supplier has also cited rising maintenance costs and overcrowding as reasons for taking this step. In a meeting last Wednesday, the contractor expressed their inability to continue the contract, and BEST has announced that they will be initiating legal proceedings to terminate it.
In a recent development, the Bombay High Court has acquitted a BEST bus driver who was involved in an accident in 1997 and has ordered his reinstatement. However, despite placing orders for over 5,000 new buses, the actual deliveries have fallen short, leaving the fleet stagnant at less than 3,000 buses, including the ones on wet lease. BEST had plans to expand their fleet to 5,000 by the end of the 2023-2024 financial year, but the slow supply rates have hindered their efforts.
Commuters are increasingly frustrated with the situation, as they report longer wait times at bus stops, with some routes experiencing delays of up to 30 minutes. Kanti Lal Jain, a regular commuter from Ghatkopar, shared that longer wait times have become the norm, especially in areas like Bandra-Kurla. Residents from Sakinaka also voiced their concerns and urged the administration to improve planning and procurement of buses. They stressed the need for the administration to keep a close eye on the supply process to avoid such situations in the future.
Route No. 111, which runs from Free Press House to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, has been hit particularly hard by the shortage of buses. Regular commuters on this route have reported wait times of 15 to 20 minutes, causing them to miss their connecting local trains. "I reach home much later now," shared an anonymous commuter, highlighting the inconvenience faced by the passengers.
While BEST officials have blamed traffic congestion for the delays, transport experts argue that the real issue is the shrinking bus fleet. With fewer buses available, commuters are left with limited options, putting immense pressure on the existing infrastructure. It is evident that immediate action needs to be taken to address this crisis and improve the public transportation system in Mumbai.
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