Given the high resonance of the problem, our front-page report on a Dadar-Worli bus route being truncated because of hawkers has evinced tremendous response. Such was the impact of the report that the route was restored post it appearing in the paper. It is vital though not to look at this in isolation. Most commuters are understandably irate about the fact that BEST buses may have to shorten routes or change them because of obstructions. The restored Worli to Dadar and back bus route was tremendously popular given the number of commuters. It was one of BEST’s most well-thought-out ‘feeder’ services.

Initially, the BEST said it was not just hawkers that had made the ride shorter. It is also the crush of shoppers at Dadar during the high festive season that makes shopping there particularly perilous. The pedestrians are spilling out on the roads, walking towards the station, looking for bargains and the fairly narrow road means it gets difficult for bus drivers.