The buses, manufactured by Nagpur-based Mumbadevi Mobility Private Limited, will operate from the Oshiwara depot in the western suburbs. IAS officer Asheesh Sharma, who currently holds additional charge as BEST’s general manager, inaugurated the new fleet at the Colaba depot.
According to the transport body, the buses will be deployed across several routes, including one that make use of the Coastal Road corridor. “The AC bus route A-84 commenced operations from Sunday between the Oshiwara depot and Dr Shyamaprasad Mukherji Chowk (Museum) with new PMI EV buses. This route will ply via the Coastal Road from Worli to Marine Drive and halt at four new stops,” BEST posted on X.
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The newly inducted vehicles are fitted with modern facilities such as a public address system and charging points for laptops and mobile phones. BEST currently operates a fleet of 2,711 buses, of which 2,293 are hired. Among them, 1,225 run on CNG and 1,068 are electric. The transport body has also introduced 50 electric double-decker buses under its fleet electrification drive.
In 2023, BEST floated a tender for 250 more electric buses, as part of efforts to make its fleet greener. Deliveries of the new PMI vehicles began in May this year, but some remained idle for months owing to delays in charging infrastructure. Officials said over 1,000 electric buses are now operational under a wet lease model, with the operator bearing costs of fuel, maintenance and drivers.
Meanwhile, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a series of initiatives aimed at modernising the state’s transport sector. At an event at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan on Saturday, the Chief Minister flagged off 400 new buses, laid the foundation stone for seven bus stations under the PPP model, and introduced the Saral Transport Helpline 149.
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Adityanath also rolled out the Digital Bus Tracking (Margdarshi) App and announced 45 new transport services to be delivered through 1.5 lakh Jan Seva Kendras.
