June 9, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has adopted a revised strategy to enhance bus services around Metro and railway stations, responding to increasing commuter demand at key transit hubs. Officials confirmed a shift towards short, high-frequency feeder routes as part of a broader push to improve last-mile connectivity.
The changes come amid growing integration between Mumbai’s bus network and new Metro corridors, particularly Lines 2A (Dahisar West to DN Nagar) and 7 (Dahisar East to Gundavali). Rather than operating longer, cross-city services, BEST is now prioritising compact routes that efficiently link major rail and Metro stations.
Data collected via the Chalo mobile application played a critical role in route redesign, revealing that most passengers now favour multi-modal travel over traditional long-haul journeys. Responding to this, BEST has cancelled several older routes and introduced shorter alternatives with increased service frequency.
For instance, the previous route 428, which ran from Goregaon Station (West) to Borivali Station (West), has been replaced by a new service from Goregaon West to Bangur Nagar Metro Station. This route now operates 26 trips daily using midi buses. Likewise, route 416 has been truncated to terminate at Bangur Nagar Metro Station, instead of extending to Goregaon Station.
Mini buses are also being deployed to cover internal areas near Metro stops, improving punctuality and reducing both travel time and fuel consumption. BEST officials noted that further route changes will be introduced based on commuter feedback and evolving travel patterns.
With Mumbai’s Metro network continuing to grow, this strategic realignment aims to reduce road congestion and provide seamless, tech-enabled multi-modal transit. The approach reflects a long-term vision of efficient, data-driven urban mobility tailored to commuter needs.
Source: Prop News Time
