According to BEST general manager Uttam Khobragade, the undertaking is “finalising” the fare structure for the luxury buses. The proposal will be discussed by the BEST committee in their next meeting. A senior BEST official, on the condition of anonymity, said, “The fares are likely to increase marginally.”

Khobragade said, “This is not a fare revision. These are new proposed fares for the dedicated bus lane service. Currently, the fares are being charged according to the AC bus fares. But since King Long is an upgraded air-conditioned bus service, the present fare structure needs to be revised.”

The decision to hike the fares for this bus service was taken after the Maharashtra government issued a notification on January 7, 2008, which stated that in respect with air-conditioned bus operated under the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), the fare chargeable is the existing fare for ordinary services plus not more than 400 per cent thereof.

According to the committee note, the undertaking has proposed minimum fare of Rs 10 for a two-kilometre distance and Rs 60 for a distance of 35 km on these buses. At present, for the 42.5 km distance from Cadbury Junction to Backbay Depot the fare charged on this highly popular bus route is Rs 55, while on the other route — World Trade Centre-Dahisar depo — is around Rs 60 for the 47.2 km distance.