BEST facing Rs 2.26 cr deficit daily on bus services: RTI

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply Transport (BEST), which runs the bus fleet in Mumbai, is facing a revenue gap of Rs 2.26 crore everyday despite over 28 lakh Mumbaikars using the services on a daily basis, an RTI query has found.

The MCGM's Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport, popularly known as BEST buses, is apparently in a tight spot with a revenue deficit of nearly Rs 2.26 crore per day, according to RTI activist Anil Galgali based on a response to a query filed by him.

Galgali had sought information with regard to the working of BEST buses, considered one of the important lifelines of Mumbai city.

The RTI query had demanded expenses per kilometre incurred by the BEST, along with the income generated by the BEST per day and number of people using the services.

In reply to the query, BEST's Assistant Manager Abhay Shelar informed that as per the figures available with them of May 2015, the expense mounts to rupees Rs 6.16 crore per day.

As per June 2015, the total income through fares for BEST is Rs 3.90 crore per day and per kilometre expenditure is Rs 97.75. Also, on an average 28.39 lakh people use the services, the reply mentioned.

Therefore, BEST losses Rs 2.26 crore everyday to provide services to Mumbaikars, Galgali said.

As of today, Rs eight is charged as base fare for regular services, Rs eight (base fare) for limited buses of BEST, Rs 10 for express buses and Rs 30 for AC bus services.