MUMBAI: You might be able to hop aboard the big, red electric bus in a few days, if things go to plan. The city will witness the commercial run of the electric double deckers tentatively from sometime next week, BEST general manager Lokesh Chandra said Saturday night.
He said that at least two buses are up for registration at the regional transport offices in the city, and the procedure may be completed in a couple of days.
“Sometime next week, citizens can expect the first two electric double deckers to be launched for the general public. The buses are likely to be run from Kurla to Bandra-Kurla Complex and also on CST Road to Santacruz besides a few other routes as the fleet increases gradually,” Chandra said.
Of the first lot of 50 e-buses that was to come in, the rest of the 48 buses could hit the roads by March-end, sources said.
Chandra pointed out that after the other buses in the first fleet arrive, the buses may be run on south Mumbai routes from CSMT and Churchgate stations to NCPA and Cuffe Parade/Backbay.
The electric double decker bus will have two staircases instead of the single one in the existing double decker buses. This will ensure smooth movement of passengers while boarding or alighting . The buses will have good suspension, CCTV camera, electronic indicators and some of the buses will be fitted with tap-in, tap-out facility for digital ticketing.
At present, the BEST fleet has 45 non-AC double deckers which run on diesel and these will be phased out by the end of June.
The e-double deckers are being procured by BEST on wet lease. One bus was launched in 2022 and there are plans to bring in a total of 900 such buses for Mumbai, officials added.
An e-double decker will provide a carrying capacity of up to 90 passengers per bus. “It can replace up to 20 private cars on roads, and carry the same number of passengers in less road space,” an official said.
The previous double deckers were non-AC, the new bus will be comfortable with good AC, suspension and will be noiseless. It will reduce the wait time at bus stops and ensure more office-goers are ferried per trip and will be zero emission public transport.
He said that at least two buses are up for registration at the regional transport offices in the city, and the procedure may be completed in a couple of days.
“Sometime next week, citizens can expect the first two electric double deckers to be launched for the general public. The buses are likely to be run from Kurla to Bandra-Kurla Complex and also on CST Road to Santacruz besides a few other routes as the fleet increases gradually,” Chandra said.
Of the first lot of 50 e-buses that was to come in, the rest of the 48 buses could hit the roads by March-end, sources said.
Chandra pointed out that after the other buses in the first fleet arrive, the buses may be run on south Mumbai routes from CSMT and Churchgate stations to NCPA and Cuffe Parade/Backbay.
The electric double decker bus will have two staircases instead of the single one in the existing double decker buses. This will ensure smooth movement of passengers while boarding or alighting . The buses will have good suspension, CCTV camera, electronic indicators and some of the buses will be fitted with tap-in, tap-out facility for digital ticketing.
At present, the BEST fleet has 45 non-AC double deckers which run on diesel and these will be phased out by the end of June.
The e-double deckers are being procured by BEST on wet lease. One bus was launched in 2022 and there are plans to bring in a total of 900 such buses for Mumbai, officials added.
An e-double decker will provide a carrying capacity of up to 90 passengers per bus. “It can replace up to 20 private cars on roads, and carry the same number of passengers in less road space,” an official said.
The previous double deckers were non-AC, the new bus will be comfortable with good AC, suspension and will be noiseless. It will reduce the wait time at bus stops and ensure more office-goers are ferried per trip and will be zero emission public transport.
