BEST proposes to acquire 2,650 electric buses in one year to expand its fleet to 8,000.

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) has announced plans to have a 100% electric bus fleet by 2027. BEST proposes to acquire 2,650 electric buses in a year to expand its fleet to 8,000 at over the next 2-3 years.

Currently, BEST operates 2,911 buses. Of the 711 electric buses, 50 are air-conditioned double-decker buses, while another 150 are under procurement. In its budget for 2025-26, BEST announced plans to procure 1,000 AC electric double-decker buses, increasing its fleet to 1,200.

The public transport company revealed that under a previous contract for 2,100 electric buses, only 275 units were delivered. There are also plans to decommission 510 old buses over the next 4 months.

Anil Diggikar, managing director, BEST, said, “Tenders for 1,000 double-decker vehicles will be floated once the BMC approves the budget proposal. He added: “This will increase the number of buses on the roads, reduce queues at stops and have greater bus transport capacity. »

Source: YOU