BEST plans new bus route on Coastal Road from Marine Drive to Worli by May

“In the upcoming 3 months, we are aiming to present a caller way which volition ferry betwixt Marine Drive and Worli, from wherever the autobus volition exit/ participate the coastal road. From Worli, the way volition widen into the suburbs. Depending connected the demand, we are looking astatine plying the buses connected coastal roads astatine a frequence of 20 – 30 minutes. We are examining the catchment and we are eyeing to motorboat a caller autobus way successful the upcoming 3 months,” a elder authoritative told Express.

However, the BEST authoritative maintained that the way volition beryllium curtailed astatine Worli, with nary contiguous plans for routes upto Bandra.

Officials, privy to the development, added, “While initially determination were plans to ferry buses done the full coastal roadworthy betwixt Marine Drive to Bandra via the connector and BSWL, we are not readying immoderate routes immediately. Firstly, the BEST buses are not exempt from the BSWL toll, making the operations of autobus services astatine nominal rates hard and expensive. Secondly, we privation to gauge the effect to the caller autobus way till Worli. If we spot bully demand, we volition see readying a caller way which extends till Bandra.” While the BEST had started ferrying buses connected the Sea Link successful 2009, its buses nary longer ply connected this route.

Nearly 1 twelvemonth since the MCRP was archetypal launched, the coastal roadworthy presently hosts lone 1 BEST way — fig A-78 — which ferries passengers betwixt NCPA and Byculla (West). The existing route, however, is besides grappling with feeble responses from commuters.

The hold successful the deployment of BEST buses connected the coastal roadworthy – which has earmarked a dedicated lane for buses – has travel overmuch to the grouse of citizens and activists.

Its depleting autobus fleet, according to elder officials from BEST, is amongst the cardinal reasons for the delayed deployment of buses connected the MCRP.

“Currently, the BEST is dealing with a depleting fleet and buses are besides being scrapped owing to which services on the existing autobus routes are besides getting hampered. It is owing to this deficiency of capable buses that the instauration of buses connected coastal roads has been delayed. As we are capable to augment our autobus connected the occidental route, we volition divert buses connected the coastal road,” said the official, adding that determination are besides concerns implicit the request of commuters on the coastal stretch.

According to officials, the BEST’s fleet has presently dwindled beneath 2,900 buses.

The ongoing works on the coastal roadworthy connected projects similar autobus bays, officials said, person induced further delays successful the opening. The BMC is processing 10 autobus bays on the 10.58 km agelong of the coastal road. To alteration users to transverse from the landward to the seaside, 20 pedestrian underpasses (PUPs) person besides been charted beneath the arterial road. However, the amenities are yet to beryllium opened for nationalist use. Of the 20 PUPs, lone 1 underpass astatine Haji Ali is presently unfastened for nationalist usage with the BMC stating that remaining pedestrian pathways are apt to beryllium opened by May 2025. Meanwhile, the autobus bays present await last touches specified arsenic thoroughfare furniture, signages etc.

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