![]() The other issue that the administration is trying to address has to do with passengers. This has become possible as the charging station is now at Colaba depot which earlier, was in Anik depot. The BEST is also running this bus on Heritage Bus route in south Mumbai during afterhours for which they charge ₹150 per passenger. During weekends, the earnings from this bus touch ₹25,0000- ₹30,000,” added Chandra. “We are getting good response from the public for the only AC e-double decker bus with a daily average of 95-100 passengers per trip and daily earnings of ₹15,000. Route number 138 connects Cuffe Parade, World Trade Centre, Mantralaya, Churchgate and CSMT. This is a popular route and buses run full throughout the day,” said Lokesh Chandra, general manager, BEST Undertaking. Meanwhile, BEST authorities expect to get the license plate number for the second AC e-double decker bus in the next couple of days after which they will put it on road for commercial run. The company spokesperson, however, replied to the questionnaire sent by Hindustan Times in a single line: “Switch is supplying buses month on month. Chassis of around 25 of these buses are already built by the bus bodybuilder and is waiting for their shells, being made by Switch Mobility, to be ready.” We have told them not to give us numbers and dates, but to let us know a couple of days before the date, they are sure of delivering the buses. Moreover, the manufacturer was supposed to deliver five more buses in the same month.Ī best official said, “Now, they have promised us 20 of these AC e-double decker buses by March end. However, it was in February that the first such bus was launched in Mumbai. Switch Mobility was scheduled to deliver the first bus in mid-January. ![]() The BEST undertaking is also unhappy with the way the delivery of these buses is not meeting the agreed schedule. Finally, yesterday there was a protest at the RTO owing to the OPS issue,” said a BEST official on condition of anonymity. It is possible that a tree branch might have hit it, despite there being protective bars. On the day when the bus was being taken to the RTO for registration, we found that the windscreen of the upper deck had cracked. “After updating and uploading insurance documents, our staffers found that there are issues with the vehicle’s live tracking device, which needs to be mandatorily connected with the national portal of the ministry. This is just the second bus delivered so far though the manufacturer had promised to supply at least five such AC e-double decker buses by February 28, which it has failed to do so. Sources said that when it arrived, there were procedural gaps such as updating the insurance documents of this bus. Moreover, the BEST Undertaking is miffed with the manufacturer, Switch Mobility, as the deadlines for delivering these state-of-the-art e-double decker buses aren’t being met.īEST received the second bus around three to four days ago and it has been parked at Colaba depot. However, it’s yet to hit the roads for want of Regional Transport Office (RTO) registration. The second such bus is in the city after much delay. (Photo by Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo) (HT PHOTO) ![]() Mumbai, India - February 21, 2023: Commuters board the India's first-ever electric AC double decker bus operating from CSMT to NCPA via Churchgate, in Mumbai, India, on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. There were supposed to be five such buses by the end of February this year. ![]() The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking is, however, still waiting for the manufacturer to deliver more air-conditioned double decker electric buses as there is only one plying on the roads now. Mumbai: Summer is here, the city has seen the mercury rising and how.
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