The loss-making Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) hiked its bus fares from April 1 for the second time in a gap of two months for offsetting their losses. Interestingly, the Undertaking has already recovered more than Rs 1,700 crore through electricity bills, which have transport cess as a component.

Over the past three years, the BEST had been charging something called Transport Deficit Loss Recovery (TDLR) from the 10-lakh electricity consumers belonging to the island city (Colaba-Sion/Mahim). This rate was Rs 1.54 per unit. The argument made by the BEST was that as electricity supply division is part of the entire Undertaking, they can take aid from their power consumers as well.