Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari today launched India’s first electric double decker bus in Mumbai. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other dignitaries attended the event. Two new electric buses, including the first air-conditioned double-decker bus in the country, will join the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) fleet.
Mumbai’s New Best Double Decker Bus Spotted! #Best #double decker@myBESTBus @chaloapp @m_indicator @mumbaitraffic @RidlrMUM @traffic_mumbai pic.twitter.com/q5qLIxXrmi— Suraj Wadekar (@WadekarSuraj) 17 August 2022
Single Decker Electric Bus and Double Decker AC Bus for App based Premium Bus Service were launched at a function held at NCPA in South Mumbai. 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 manufacturer of the buses was first unveiled at a function near Mantralaya in South Mumbai on Thursday morning and then handed over to the BEST undertaking.
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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 over 3 million passengers every day with a fleet of around 3,700 buses.
(with inputs from PTI)