[sustran] Mumbai's double deckers saved from scrap, yet again

Rajendra Aklekar rajendra_media at yahoo.com
Thu Nov 23 01:23:50 JST 2006


Mumbai's double deckers saved from scrap, yet again

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1849689,000600010004.htm

Rajendra Aklekar

Mumbai, November 21, 2006
Mumbai’s famous double decker buses have been saved from the scrap torch.
The BEST has finally, relented to pressure from citizens and its committee members and agreed to
maintain a minimum fleet of at least 200 double decker buses. 

It had earlier proposed to maintain a fleet of merely 75 double deckers in its fleet. HT had first
reported that the undertaking had proposed to cut down its fleet.

Relenting to pressure from citizens and from BEST committee members, who, cutting across party
lines, opposed the BEST’s proposal of slashing double deckers, first introduced in 1937, the
undertaking said they will work out a way to maintain the fleet.

“Double deckers have been Mumbai’s landmark and the BEST there was a uproar from citizens when the
BEST had tried to do so earlier. Even this time, a number of Mumbai citizens have come ahead and
requested the BEST not to scrap its double deckers, which evoke nostalgia and charm. And hence we
requested the undertaking to maintain a minimum fleet of 200 buses,” Congress committee member
Ravi Raja said.

“In fact I would say, the BEST should not only maintain its fleet of double decker buses, but also
think of inducting air-conditioned double deckers in its fleet. They would not only add to the
city’s charm, but also be more convenient for passengers,” BJP’s Pravin Chheda said.

Committee member Sunil Ganacharya said how dare the administration even attempted to withdraw
double deckers, when it had earlier given an assurance that they would maintain a minimum fleet of
200 such buses.

BEST general manager Uttam Khobragade said that he would work out a solution as to how can he
maintain the fleet with minimum expenditure losses. “Running double decker buses is an expensive
affair and it is highly uneconomical to run them, but we shall try and do a product mix, which
means induct smaller buses on the route when there’s no crowd and induct double deckers during
rush hours and crowded routes” he told HT.

Initially, the undertaking had plans to bring down its double decker fleet from 227 in April 2006
to as less as 75 by March 2007.

According to official documents, the BEST Undertaking had a fleet of 227 buses in April 2006 and
during the financial year 2006-07, the management planned to scrap 153 buses out of service and
the expected fleet of double decker bus will come down to a mere 75 by march next year.

As of 1 October 2006, the figure had already come down to 199. During the year 2006-07, the BEST
added only one double decker bus to its fleet.

BEST figures state that the cost of operation of a double decker bus is Rs 58 per km as against Rs
37 for a single decker bus. At present, double decker buses run on 16 various routes in the city
and suburbs.

While double decker requires two conductors as against one in a single decker bus, the carrying
capacity of a double decker bus is 91 passengers as against 72 for a single decker bus.
Maintaining a double-decker costs Rs 50,000 a year.

BEST minimum fare is now Rs 3

The minimum fare of the BEST has been brought down to Rs 3 for a minimum distance of 2 km on
Tuesday. At present, the minimum fare slab was Rs 4 for a distance of 3 km.

The BEST committee had proposed to slash fares to meet the challenge of share autos in the suburbs
due to which as the undertaking was seeing a drop in passenger traffic.
 


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Rajendra Aklekar
Hindustan Times
HT Media Limited
Mahalaxmi Ind. Estate
LJ. Cross Road
Mahim, Mumbai-16

Mobile: +91 9892 190 761
Office: 66539200
Fax: 66539250/60
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