BEST's AC buses to ply on select routes

Saturday, June 21 1997

BEST's AC buses to ply on select routes

Ashish Wagh

MUMBAI, June 20: The Bombay Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) will soon introduce air-conditioned buses on some of its more lucrative routes. Officials said experimental runs of this luxury service will begin soon after the buses are procured from Ashok Leyland.

Sources said the first two buses would be procured free of charge. And if the experiment succeded, orders for more buses, at a cost of Rs 18 to 20 lakh per bus, would be placed with the same company.

Though the fare structure is yet to be worked out, officials said it would be about 50 to 75 per cent higher than the existing limited bus fares.

And how does BEST propose to sell this new concept to the commuters? ``We will promote the luxury buses as an environmental friendly option to cars. A single-deck AC bus would take the load of at least 30 private cars off the road, while it will occupy the space of only three,'' a BEST official said.

``We must convince car owners to use their vehicles more sparingly. Not only do cars create pollution, they also inflate our petroleum bill,'' he added. Studies have revealed that on an average a car emits 4,029 kilos of carbon dioxide, 29.6 kilos of nitrogen oxide and 34.4 kilos of hydrocarbons per year.

A few months ago, the automobile giant Autoriders had proposed to operate their 2x2 AC Limouzine buses on the BEST-monopolised ``stage carriage system.'' However, due to widespread criticism in political circles, the Chairman Mukesh Patel withdrew the proposal at the last minute. This had disappointed the BEST officials who were very keen on running such services in the city.

BEST officials do not deny the possibility of criticism after the AC buses are launched. However, they are confident of their success. ``The AC buses will provide the same comfort as cars do, at a much lower cost,'' said a officer. ``There will be no compromises in comfort...the new buses will have a 2x2 seating arrangement with a special area for standees.''

This global concept may not gel with the city cabbies. While the taximen are trying their level best to make the Cool Cabs successful, BEST officials anticipate criticism from them no sooner the AC buses hit the roads.