The ₹3.25 Crore Mirage: Why BEST’s Future Lies In Ridership, Not Revenue |
On August 6, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) reported daily revenue of ₹3.25 crore, one of its highest in months, following a May fare hike that doubled the minimum ticket price for both AC and non-AC buses. Officials hailed it as a step toward “sustainability,” citing not only higher collections but also “healthy” footfall.
Crowded Trains, Riskier Commutes After BEST Ridership Falls
Look past the balance sheet, however, and the picture shifts dramatically. Commuter rights groups estimate BEST’s daily ridership has fallen from roughly 3.5 million before the hike to about 2.5 million today, a loss of one million passengers in just three months. These commuters haven’t disappeared; they’ve been pushed onto already overcrowded local trains, where safety risks are mounting. A revenue spike that comes at the expense of passenger numbers is not sustainability, it’s a slow bleed of the very lifeblood that keeps a public transport system........