Mumbai's BEST Bus Services Update: Speed Drops, Wait Times Soar; Can Separate Lanes Help?

The average speed of BEST buses has decreased by two kilometres per hour over the past decade, causing longer waiting times for passengers. According to data from the BEST administration shared by a Mid-day report, the average speed of buses was 12 kilometres per hour in 2013-14, but it dropped to 10 kilometres per hour in 2023-24.

As a result, buses now cover less distance than planned. In 2023-24, buses were expected to cover 197.2 kilometres in a day but only managed 161.1 kilometres. In contrast, in 2013-14, the planned distance was 206.9 kilometres, with buses covering 186.2 kilometres.

Each bus operates for an average of 16 hours daily, and the reduced speed has led to an increase in waiting times for commuters. The average waiting time has risen from 15-18 minutes to 25-28 minutes. The drop in speed has also been linked to heavy traffic congestion, with buses moving even slower on highways.

To improve the situation, BEST introduced smaller buses over the last five years to help them navigate through traffic more easily. However, despite these efforts, the average bus speed still falls short of the planned targets.

The reduction in fleet size has also contributed to the delays. In 2013-14, BEST operated 4,288 buses. However, this number has decreased to 2,889 buses in 2023-24, with 989 buses owned by BEST and 1,900 wet-leased. The reduction in fleet size, combined with slower speeds, has led to a drop in ridership from 36 lakh daily passengers to 31.5 lakh.

In 2021-22, the average bus speed was 11 kilometres per hour, compared to a scheduled speed of 12 kilometres per hour. The buses covered 170.3 kilometres in 16 hours, while the scheduled distance was 192 kilometres.

Rupesh Shelatkar, president of the commuter rights group Aapli BEST Aaplya Sathi, commented in the same report, "We have discussed this issue with BEST officials many times. Due to delays, several bus routes have been curtailed. To address this, we suggest introducing separate bus lanes, especially on the Eastern and Western Expressways. We will meet with officials from BEST, BMC, and the police to push for this. Apart from traffic, hawkers on narrow roads also contribute to the delays."