August 5: The BEST committee on Tuesday passed a proposal to provide monthly season tickets to its commuters on short-journey feeder routes. The season ticket would be similar to the one of the railways and will have an identity card to authenticate it.

Initially only for routes under 2.5 kilometres long, the BEST management has stated that the facility could be extended to routes upto four kilometres long if the response is good.

Presently, the facility will be available to passengers travelling on ordinary routes like 248 from Andheri station (west) to Ramesh Nagar, 254 from Andheri station to Veera Desai road and at least ten others. Out of the limited routes, the BEST has chosen routes like 608 Ltd from Kanjurmarg station (west) to Hanuman nagar/Pratap nagar and a ring service like the 618 Ltd from Santacruz station (east) to Santacruz station (east).

The BEST has decided to charge a passenger 23 days of fare for a monthly season ticket, by which he can use the bus service as many times as he wishes. An identity card will be available at select places at the cost of Rs 10.

However, no season ticket holder would be entitled for preferential treatment on the buses, the proposal stated.

Lal when quizzed about how the BEST concluded on charging 23 days fare from its passengers while the suburban railways charge for seven days, said there is a limit to provide subsidised travel.

BEST statistics revealed that nearly 24 percent of passengers travel for less than 2.5 kilometres - a reason to introduce the system.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.