Mumbai: BEST Introduces Electric AC Double-Decker Buses from Andheri Station to SEEPZ

Mumbai: The BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) introduced new electric AC double-decker buses in the western suburbs. The buses started running from Andheri Station East to SEEPZ on Monday morning.

This route stays busy all day because many people who work in offices catch the bus from outside Andheri station. The last non-AC diesel double-decker on this route was stopped in mid-September.

"A total 10 new electric AC buses have been introduced on routes 332 and 415 from Monday," a BEST official said, as per the TOI report.

A month after being warned by the BEST for not delivering 700 electric double-decker buses as per their contract, Causis E-Mobility has now committed to delivering them by May 2024. BEST's General Manager, Vijay Singhal, confirmed the update, stating that Causis E-Mobility had promised to meet the delivery by the middle of 2024.

Under the contract, Causis didn't supply the agreed-upon buses, leading to a blacklisting notice. However, to avoid damage to the company's reputation, Causis E-Mobility has now assured delivery. The contract initially involved two companies supplying 900 double-decker electric buses, with 700 from Causis E-Mobility and the remaining 200 manufactured by Switch Mobility.

The BEST fleet has recently added 12 new AC double-decker e-buses, replacing single-decker AC buses on the Nariman Point and Cuffe Parade routes. This brings the total number of electric AC double-deckers to 24. These buses will operate on routes from CSMT to Gateway, RC Church to Tardeo, and even Juhu in Andheri and Bandra Kurla Complex. The BEST is considering expanding the routes for these vehicles. Each bus costs around ₹2 crore, with BEST leasing them at ₹56 per km.

By March of the following year, BEST expects to receive 2,100 AC single-decker e-buses, increasing their fleet to 3,062 buses that transport 30-32 lakh passengers daily.