Even as the BEST administration has decided to hike ticket fares, 400 buses from its own fleet are set to be scrapped by November 2025. Simultaneously, BEST is still waiting for the delivery of 2100 wet-lease buses ordered back in 2022—and has no plans to expand its own fleet.
 
Last week, civic chief Bhushan Gagrani approved the proposal for a fare hike. Ticket prices will increase by Rs 5 to Rs 15. However, as fares rise, the fleet continues to shrink. Currently, BEST owns only 650 buses, of which 400 will be scrapped within the next 18 months. As per transport norms, buses must be scrapped after 15 years.

Officials claim the average waiting time for a bus is 30 minutes due to the shortage of vehicles. File pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi