BEST Bus Services Halted In Kurla: Commuters Forced To Walk Or Pay Exorbitant Fares

The disruption of BEST bus services in Kurla continued on Wednesday, leaving thousands of commuters stranded, according to Lokmat report. Following a bus accident earlier this week, bus services to and from Kurla railway station were redirected to Kurla depot, causing significant inconvenience for passengers travelling to Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), Andheri, and Santacruz.

With no buses operating directly to Kurla railway station, passengers were forced to walk from Kurla depot to the station. Auto-rickshaw drivers seized the opportunity to charge exorbitant fares, worsening the situation for commuters.

Photo Credit: PTI

Routes Affected And Passenger Woes

BEST buses typically run from Kurla to areas including Andheri, Santacruz, BKC, and Powai. However, for the last two days, buses have been rerouted to start and end at Kurla depot. This affected passengers travelling to various locations such as Kalina, MTNL, MHADA, Kalpana Cinema, Sheetal Cinema, Bail Bazaar, Jarimari, and Sakinaka.

Auto-rickshaw fares skyrocketed, with some drivers charging Rs 300 for a trip from Kurla to Andheri and Rs 130 for Kurla to BKC. Share rickshaws charged Rs 50 per passenger for short distances like Kurla to BKC or Kurla to the MHADA office.

Changes In BEST Bus Routes

Several BEST bus routes were altered, with buses 37, 320, 319, 325, 330, 365, and 446 operating from Kurla depot. Additionally, buses 311, 313, and 318, which connect Santacruz and Kurla stations, were terminated at Tilak Nagar instead of Kurla station. Bus 310 also changed its route, taking a U-turn at Tilak Nagar bridge and running only up to Bandra bus station.

Commuter Challenges

Passengers travelling from Vidyavihar and Ghatkopar faced difficulties as Kurla-bound buses were unavailable. Many relied on shared or metered rickshaws, while others chose to walk long distances to avoid the high fares.

The BEST bus station area in Kurla remained nearly deserted, with rickshaw drivers taking full advantage of the situation. Despite the challenges, some passengers preferred walking to their destinations, citing unaffordable fares.

Commuters are now hoping for a swift resolution to the disruption in services.