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

[Alan Howes]

Hallelujah!

I have to say I could never understand why deckers cost BEST so much
more to operate than single-decks - although obviously the second
conductor comes at a cost.  But the GM's proposed strategy makes sense -
no point in running deckers on lightly-used evening journeys.

NB in the HT para - 
"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."
The numbers do, of course, refer to double deck buses.

Also, those capacities quoted are very much nominal!

Alan


--
Alan Howes
Associate Transport Planner
Colin Buchanan 
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-----Original Message-----
From:
sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk at list.jca.apc.org
[mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk at list.jca.apc.
org] On Behalf Of Rajendra Aklekar
Sent: 22 November 2006 16:24
To: sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org
Subject: [sustran] Mumbai's double deckers saved from scrap, yet again

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.
 


---
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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