The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has signed a concession agreement for the procurement of 1,500 air-conditioned electric midi buses under the Central government’s PM E-Drive scheme. The initiative aims to strengthen Mumbai’s public transport network, improve last-mile connectivity and bring back as many as 125 discontinued bus routes.
The nine-metre-long electric buses will be deployed in phases, catering to residential neighbourhoods, densely populated corridors and areas with narrow roads and steep gradients where operating larger 12-metre buses is challenging. The additional fleet is also expected to improve connections between residential localities, Metro stations and suburban railway stations.
Earlier this year, the BEST Committee approved the purchase of these buses through a wet lease arrangement. Under this model, private operators will provide the vehicles, drivers and maintenance services, while BEST will manage route operations and ticketing.
According to a BEST spokesperson, two private companies have been selected to supply the fleet. One company will provide 1,050 buses, while the other will deliver the remaining 450.
Following the agreement, BEST plans to receive the first 225 buses by March 2027. The remaining vehicles will arrive in stages, with the entire fleet expected to be inducted by March 2028. The proposed delivery schedule includes four phases comprising 225, 375, 450 and 450 buses, respectively.
With the additional fleet, BEST aims to expand its existing network from approximately 400 routes to nearly 525. Priority will be given to services withdrawn over the past few years because of operational difficulties and vehicle shortages.
Areas such as Vikhroli, Bhandup and Kanjurmarg are expected to benefit from the smaller buses, particularly along roads unsuitable for larger vehicles.
The electric fleet will feature ultra-low floors for easier boarding, including wheelchair access, Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries, air suspension, fast DC charging, 360-degree CCTV cameras, Intelligent Transport Management Systems and fire detection and suppression mechanisms.
The phased rollout is expected to provide commuters with more reliable transport options and improve connectivity across Mumbai.
Source: Hindustan Times
