Instead of reducing number of buses from April 15, as is the norm, BEST cuts services over a month early due to staff crunch
Instead of reducing number of buses from April 15, as is the norm,u00a0BEST cuts services over a month early due to staff crunch
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Commuters, already feeling the heat of a mercurial March, were in for more trouble as BEST started its annual summer curtailment of services a month ahead of schedule, leaving fewer number of buses on the streets.
"BEST's actual strength of drivers and conductors, including daily wage workers, is around 12,500, but we have been forced to manage our operations with around 4,000 staff members," a senior BEST official said.
Passengers have to now wait in long queues braving the scorching heat
"This is why BEST has pulled back around 700 buses from its 4,700-strong fleet, which is causing us a loss of Rs 7.5 lakh every day," he added.
The BEST authorities sent a circular to this effect to all its 25 depots in the beginning of March.
If there are 20 buses plying on a particular route on a normal day, the number will come down to 17-18 during the two-month curtailment period, he added.
Usually, the process starts in mid-April and continues till June as there are fewer commuters during that period owing to summer vacations.
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Many officegoers take leave to accompany their kids for holidays during the vacations.
Cause and effect
The drive has caused overcrowding on the buses and at bus stands. Longu00a0 queues of passengers jostling to boardu00a0 buses can be seen at bus stops.
Women and children are suffering the most.u00a0
Savita Nerurkar, a daily bus commuter who works in a pharmaceuticals company, said, "Getting into a crowded bus has always been a pain for women and children, but, of late, the crowd has increased enormously.
"Every day, while commuting to my office at Versova, I have to take a bus from Andheri station. Sometimes, I have to wait for more than an hour at the bus stop. 
With the number of services reducing, the passenger load of each bus has increased, making them even more crowded than before
BEST should think about its passengers, who don't have any other option but to travel in a bus."
There have been instances when school children, waiting for hours for a bus, decided to walk to their homes in desperation. "It could be a risky exercise for them as the roads are very busy," she added.
Did you know?
The undertaking was founded in 1905 as the Bombay Electric Supply & Tramways Company Limited and its name was changed to Bombay Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking in 1947. Its buses are similar to those operating in London.
12,500
Sanctioned strength of BEST staff
Rs 7.5 lakh
Daily loss incurred by BEST due to the cut every day
4,700
Number of buses that ply on the roads
PREVIOUSLY...
MiD DAY had reported on the shortage of drivers and conductors in November 2010 as well. The reason for the shortage then was that a few BEST drivers and conductors had quit to join the MSRTC as they were offered more money and perks.
The Other Side
Ravi Raja, BEST committee member, said "It is true that we are running fewer buses on the roads as we are facing shortage of drivers and conductors. We are in the process of recruiting more people for running the buses." BEST spokesperson N A Walawalkar, however, denied this and said, "We are running all the buses on the road. There is no curtailment in the number of services."
4,700
Total buses in the fleet
4,000
No of buses running now
Rs 7.5 L
Losses incurred by BEST per day
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