Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport

Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport Undertaking

Electric House, Colaba, headquarters of BEST.
Formerly	1873 as Bombay Tramway Company Limited (Horsecar) ---- 1905 as Bombay Electric Supply & Tramways Company Limited (BEST) (Tramways and Electricity) ---- 1947 as Bombay Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) (Transport and Electricity) ---- 1995 as Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST) (Transport and Electricity)
Company type	Autonomous State-owned enterprise
Industry	Public transport - Tram (1873–1964), Trolleybus (1962-1971), Bus (1926–present) ---- Electricity (1905–present)
Founded	Mumbai (1873)
Headquarters	Electric House, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Key people	Anil Diggikar, GM; Chairman - Ashish Chemburkar
Revenue	₹ 2,353.4 million ($538.7m USD) (2004)
Net income	₹620.4 million. ($14.2m USD) (2004)
Number of employees	44000 (2005)
Parent	Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai
Website	www.bestundertaking.com

The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) is a civic transport and electricity provider public body based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It was originally set up in 1873 as a tramway company called "Bombay Tramway Company Limited". The company set up a captive thermal power station at the Wadi bunder in November 1905 to generate electricity for its trams and positioned it to also supply electricity to the city and re-branded itself to "Bombay Electric Supply & Tramways (BEST)" Company. In 1926, BEST also became an operator of motor buses. In 1947, the BEST became an undertaking of the Municipal Corporation and rebranded itself to "Bombay Electric Supply & Transport (BEST)". In 1995 the organisation was renamed to "Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST)" alongside Mumbai. It now operates as an autonomous body under the Municipal Corporation.

BEST operates one of India's largest fleets of buses. The bus transport service covers the entire city and also extends its operations outside city limits into neighbouring urban areas. In addition to buses, it also operates a ferry service in the northern reaches of the city. The electricity division of the organisation is also one of the few electricity departments in India to garner an annual gross profit.

History

1865–1873: Early proposals

The idea of a mass public transport system for Bombay was first put forward in 1865 by an American company, which applied for a licence to operate a horse-drawn tramway system. Although a licence was granted, the project was never realized due to the prevailing economic depression in the city due to the end of the American Civil War, during which Bombay had made vast strides in its economy by supplying cotton and textiles to the world market. On 27 November 1871, a notice in the Times of India newspaper found to be too expensive and the tender was promptly abandoned.

1873–1905: Bombay Tramway Company Limited, introduction of horse-drawn trams

The "Bombay Tramway Company Limited" was formally set up in 1873. After a contract was entered into between the Bombay Tramway Company, the municipality and Stearns and Kitteredge company, the Bombay Presidency enacted "The Bombay Tramways Act, 1874", under which the company was licensed to run a horsecar tramway service in the city. ^[1] On 9 May 1874, the first horse-drawn tram made its début in the city, plying on the Colaba–Pydhone via Crawford Market, and Bori Bunder to Pydhonie via Kalbadevi routes. The initial fare was three annas (15 paise) , and no tickets were issued. As the service became increasingly popular, the fare was reduced to two annas (10 paise). Later that year, tickets were issued for the first time to curb increasing ticketless travel. ^[2] Stearns and Kitteredge reportedly had a stable of 900 horses when tram service began.

In 1882 the municipality entered into an agreement with the Eastern Electric Light and Power Company to provide electric lighting in the Crawford Market and on some of the roads. But the company went into liquidation the following year and the market reverted to gas lighting. In 1899, Bombay Tramway Company applied to the municipality, for operation of electrically operated trams. Due to the high investment required, the company suggested that the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) should waive its right to take over the tramways, which was to take place in 1901 according to the Bombay Tramways Act. Instead, the BMC decided to take over the company, but was met with several legal problems. In 1904 the British Electric Traction Company (England) applied for a license to supply electricity to the city. The "Brush Electrical Engineering Company" was its agent. It got "The Bombay Electric License" on 31 July 1905 signed by Bombay Tramways Company, the Bombay Municipality and its agent, the Brush Electrical Company.

1905–1947: Bombay Electric Supply & Tramway Company Limited, introduction of electric trams and buses

City's first electric tram in 1907

Gas lamps of the early 20th century

In 1905, "Bombay Electric Supply & Tramway Company Limited" (B.E.S.T.) was formed. The B.E.S.T. Company was granted the monopoly for electric supply and the running of an electric tram service in the city. It bought the assets of the Bombay Tramway Company for ₹9,850,000. ^[3] Two years later in 1907, the first electric tram debuted in the city. Later that year, a 4,300 kilowatts (5,800 hp) steam power generator was commissioned at Wari Bunder. In 1916, the Tata Power group began purchasing power and by 1925, all power generation was outsourced from Tata. ^[4] The passing years aggravated the problem of rush-hour traffic and to ease the situation, double-decker trams were introduced in September 1920.

B E S & T Co. Ltd. 1 Anna Token Booklet with advertisement of Bombay Mutual Life Insurance

The city's first bus in 1926.

Since 1913, the company had been pondering over starting a motorised bus service. The main factor against its introduction was the high accident rate for a similar service in London. After years of debate, the company came to a decision on 10 February 1926, to start a bus service later that year. Bombay saw its first bus run on 15 July 1926 between Afghan Church and Crawford Market. The people of Bombay received the bus with enthusiasm, but it took some time before this means of conveyance really established itself. Despite stiff opposition and protests by taxi drivers, the service ran without a hitch, transporting 600,000 passengers by the end of that year. The following year the number had increased to 3.8 million. For several years, it was looked upon as transport for the upper-middle class. Those were the days when the tram was the poor man's transport; it carried one all the way from the Sassoon Docks to Dadar. The bus fare for the same journey was 25 paise. In response to the pleas made by the Government and the Bombay Municipal Corporation, the company extended its services to the northern part of the city in 1934. The Indian independence movement's call for mass non-violent strikes and general civil disobedience led to regular service disruptions, leading to the company incurring huge losses in 1929. The next year was a particular bad year for the company in the wake of the Great Depression. To remain solvent, the company decided to introduce discounted fares for short routes, and increase its coverage to the northern portions of the city. In 1937, the introduction of double-decker buses proved to be extremely popular.

City's first double-decker tram in 1920

1947–1995: Bombay Electric Supply & Transport, further expansion

Pursuant to the option given to it under the deed of concession granted to the Bombay Electric Supply and Tramways Co. Ltd, the BMC acquired the assets of the combined undertaking, namely the operation of tramways and distribution of electricity in the city of Bombay as a going concern on 7 August 1947. By mutual agreement, the corporation also took over the operation of the bus services, which was run by the Bombay Electric Supply & Transport Company. Thus, "Bombay Electric Supply & Tramways Company" was renamed "Bombay Electric Supply & Transport". ^{[5] [6]}

As the company grew, it increased its fleet from 242 to 582 buses over the next decade. In 1949, it took over the Bandra Bus Company, which used to ply buses in the suburbs. ^[7] In 1951, the electricity division switched over from direct current (DC) to the more efficient alternating current (AC). The company launched its services in the eastern suburbs in 1955. That year, the Undertaking and private operators went to court with BEST asking for a complete closure of the private companies. The case dragged on for four years before the Supreme Court of India granted the organisation a complete monopoly over bus services in the Greater Bombay area. In 1964, due to high operational costs and poor public support, its long-running tram services were terminated. ^[8] The company became the first company in the country to issue computerised billing in 1974. In 1994, the company introduced electronic meters in a move to replace the less accurate electric meters.

A notable Chairman of BEST during this 1970's period was Kisan Mehta, who was known for his social activism. ^[9]

1995–present: Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport, recent developments

With the renaming of the city from Bombay to Mumbai in 1995, the organization was renamed to "Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST)". Following a Supreme Court directive, the company gradually phased out old buses and introduced new buses which complied with the Euro III pollution control standards. ^[10] On 19 November 2004, route SPL-8 travelling from Churchgate to the World Trade Centre had started accepting cashless smart cards for automatic fare collection in BEST buses. BEST currently has over 3000 buses in its fleet and plans to increase the number of buses.

After the 9/11 bombings, BEST had installed an audio-visual surveillance system (CCTV) on each of its buses to monitor suspicious behavior on-board its vehicles but it is no longer done. Almost all buses had two LCD TVs per bus which showed BEST TV but it was discontinued. BEST had introduced A/C Cerita services on certain routes but due to high maintenance it got discontinued.

The A/C bus "AS-4" from Oshiwara Depot to Backbay Depot was the route with the highest revenue for BEST.

A new era for BEST began in 2019 when it revised its fare and increased bus fleet by inducting non-AC and AC buses on wet lease. Passenger numbers which were all-time low started to increase and in 2020 it achieved its passenger numbers which it had in 2012. Since 2019, BEST revenue has also improved, however it is still not in profit.

Organisational structure

Management structure of BEST

The company is headed by a general manager, currently Lokesh Chandra.

The transport department is overseen by a "Deputy General Manager (Traffic Operations)" who is assisted by the "Chief Manager (Traffic)." The 'Chief Manager (Traffic)' oversees the five BEST zones, each headed by a 'Dy. Chief Manager (traffic)'. Each zone consists of 7 to 8 depots, whose operations are overseen by an 'assistant general manager (Traffic Operation)'. A 'Depot Manager' or 'Dy. Depot Manager' heads each depot. ^[11]

The electricity department is headed by a "Deputy General Manager (Electric Supply)' (DGM (ES))," who is assisted by an "Assistant General Manager (Electric Supply)" (AGM (ES)), and is in charge of planning, new projects, construction, street lighting, computer applications and the generation cell. The "Chief Engineer – Electric Supply" (CEES) is in-charge of material testing and the Standards, Meters and Relays and the Review departments. Two "Chief Engineer – Distribution" (CED) officials manage the two administrative zones. ^[12]

BEST enjoys a high degree of autonomy under the BMC; the latter approves its yearly budget and permits increases in bus fares when required. A body of 17 municipal corporate officials from the ruling party in the BMC form the BEST committee. The committee, headed by a chairman, keeps a tab on the undertaking's daily operations. ^[13] The committee has a staggered two-year term.

Transport department

• 
  A BEST old double-decker bus
• 
  A CNG powered BEST bus

Rolling stock and depot

In 1936, the company owned 433 tram vehicles and 128 busses. ^[14]

As of May 2023 ^[update] , BEST has a fleet of 3,228 buses which includes BEST-owned buses and buses on wet lease. The fleet comprises 525 diesel single-decker buses, 2,250 CNG buses, 406 battery electric single-decker buses, 45 diesel double-decker buses and 7 battery electric double-decker buses. ^[15] The fleet numbers are dynamic due to the National Vehicle Scrappage Policy under which all State and Central government-owned vehicles older than 15 years (including buses owned by transport corporations) will be scrapped from 1 April 2023. These will be replaced by new vehicles running on alternative fuels. ^{[16] [17]}

BEST placed a ₹3,675 crore (US$440 million) order with Olectra Greentech to supply and maintain 2,100 battery electric single-decker buses for a 12 year period in May 2022. ^[18] In February 2023, India's first battery electric double-decker AC bus was deployed by BEST on the A- 115 route. ^[19] 200 of these Switch EiV 22 double-decker buses have been ordered from Switch Mobility to replace the existing diesel double-decker fleet. ^{[17] [20]} The target is to have a 100 percent electric fleet by 2027. ^[18]

BEST also have goods carrier buses, break-down vans, blue coloured sightseeing and party buses, tree cutting double decker buses and driving school buses which are used to train drivers. All buses are tagged with a route number and its corresponding destination. They are displayed in the front in Marathi and on the side in English. All buses have GPS devices installed which give real time information about arrival to management as well as passengers. Inside the bus there are LED indicators displaying route and destination as well as upcoming stop name in Marathi and English. The newer wet leased buses have cctv cameras installed but the older buses do not have cctv cameras. ^[21] All unit overhauling, repairing of body damages, tyre cut repairs, plant and equipment installation and repairs, and reclamation activities are carried out in the workshop. There are roughly 4,500 to 5,000 bus stops in Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Some of them are equipped with bus ETA system. The bus stops are of two types, shelter and pole. All bus stops have route numbers which stop and stop name in Marathi and English. They even have a unique code on all stops. Each bus has a unique number and depot code assigned to it. The depot codes are mentioned below.

Mostly all BEST buses are painted in standard original red colour with "BEST" logo in English and Marathi. There are different coloured stripes on these buses to indicated some features and type of fuel the bus uses. The following are the different stripes and its meaning :-

1. Yellow and Green strip- it indicates the bus is run on CNG.

2. Grey strip- it indicates the bus is run on Diesel. (These types are almost scrapped)

3. White strip- these are also run on diesel but are procured under MUTP-II and MUTP-III. (By 2023 these types will be scrapped)

4. Silver strip- it indicates the bus is electric powered.

5. Black, Yellow and Green strip- it indicates that a AC CNG bus is converted into non AC CNG bus. (They were earlier Purple coloured King Long AC buses)

Best has some special livery buses too with BEST logo on it.

1. Full grey coloured "Safety is our Motto" in red or white text livery.

2. Yellow and Black livery to indicate that the bus is hybrid and given by MMRDA.

3. Yellow and Pink livery to indicate ladies special 'Tejaswini' buses.

A BEST AC mini-bus

Until BEST was taken over by the municipality, only the Colaba depot was available for the maintenance of buses and minor repairs. As the fleet grew, more depots were needed. In 1961 the fleet comprised 1045 buses. Six new depots were constructed for their maintenance. The Wadala depot was equipped for the maintenance of 300 buses. At this time it was the largest depot in Asia. After this, the authorities decided that no depot should be called on to look after more than 125 to 150 buses after taking long maintenance times into account. Accordingly, small depots were built at convenient spots in the city and its suburbs. The most recent depot was Kalakilla and Malad. Each depot is a work center that provides bus services effectively every day, carries out preventive maintenance, as well as repairs on buses. Depots carry out maintenance practices such as preventive maintenance, unit replacement, RTO passing, body damage repairs of buses. BEST buses are operated out of the 27 bus depot located in four zones viz. City, Central, Western, and Eastern Suburban zones. ^{[22] [23]}

In late 2019, BEST began operating air-conditioned mini-buses and midi-buses that were hired on a wet lease. BEST also plans to increase its fleet size to 6,00 buses by 2022. ^{[24] [25] [26]}

In April 2022, it came up with 100% digital buses with a ‘Tap in and Tap out’ ticketing system, making Mumbai the first city in India to get fully digital buses. ^{[27] [28]}

BEST Bus Depot List and Routes operated from each depot

No	Depot Name in English	Depot Name in Marathi	Depot Code	Inauguration	Address	Bus Route No.	Bus Stations	Major Operations
City Zone
1	Colaba	कुलाबा	C	1905	Electric House, Colaba, Mumbai	1, 6L, 103, 108, A111, 113, A115, A138 and A116 (Double Decker), 139	Colaba Depot, Chht. Shivaji Terminus, Ballard Pier	Colaba, Chht. Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Fort, Churchgate, Malabar Hill, Nariman Point, Girgaon, Andheri (E), Bandra (W), Mahul
2	Backbay	बॅकबे	BB	1976	Cuffe Parade Road, Backbay, Mumbai	3, C-10 Exp, 25L, 100, 106, A3, A6, A25, A106, 112, A112, 115, A115, A116, A120, A121, 122, 134, A134, A136, A137, A138, 8SPL, 9SPL, HO-HO Service	Backbay Depot, Navy Nagar, Colaba Bus Stn., Ahilyabai Holkar Chk.	Backbay, Nariman Point, Churchgate, Byculla, Colaba, Antop Hill, Sion, Kurla, Mahul, Mantralaya, Malabar Hill, Nepean Sea Road, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Gateway of India, Charni Road, Opera House (Girgaon), Tardeo, Sewree, Ballard Pier
3	Mumbai Central	मुंबई सेंट्रल	CN	1950	Morland Road, Byculla, Mumbai	42, A49, A63, A77, A102, A104, A105, A123, A126, A132, A135, A154, A155, A351	Mumbai Central Depot, Ferry Wharf, Jijamata Udyan, Vasantrao Naik Chk., Byculla Stn. [W],	Mumbai Central, Tardeo, Byculla, Mazgaon, Walkeshwar, Chembur, Vikhroli, Malabar Hill, Ferry Wharf, August Kranti Maidan, Mazgaon, Mahul, Chunabhatti, Mahalakshmi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Grant Road, Pydhonie, Navy Nagar, Mantralaya, Tardeo, Fort, Worli, Cumbala Hill, Antop Hill, Byculla (W), Nepean Sea Road
4	Worli	वरळी	WR	1961	Off A. B. Road, Worli, Mumbai	44, 50, 56, A82, A89, 110, A124, 125, A162, A167, A171, 354, C-54 Exp	Worli Depot, Worli Village, Com. P. K. Kurne Chk.	Worli, Dadar (W), Prabhadevi, Parel, Mulund (W), Fort, Ferry Wharf, Versova, Mantralaya, Wadala (E), Colaba, Navy Nagar, Sewree, Airoli, Prabhadevi Stn (W), Antop Hill, Santacruz (W), Backbay, Chunabhatti
5	Wadala	वडाळा	W	1961	Tilak Road, Opp. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar College, Wadala, Mumbai	14B, 25L, 40L, 57, 69, 77, 151, 165, 168, 174, 212, 217, 411, C-440 Exp, A440, C-521 Exp	Wadala Depot, P. Thakre Udyan	Wadala, Dadar (E), Sewree, Chandivali (Andheri (E)), Parel, Worli, Malabar Hill, Nepean Sea Road, Fort, Colaba, Reay Road, Antop Hill, Breach Candy, Byculla (W), Dadar (W), Bandra (W), Borivali (E), Chembur, Malad (W), Ghansoli
Central Suburb Zone
6	Marol	मरोळ	M	1968	Central Road, MIDC, Marol, Andheri (E), Mumbai	22L, 39, A186, 307, 333, 334, 335, 340, 435, 443, 522L, 706L, A337, A338, A340, A441, A442, A443, A434	Marol Depot, Agarkar Chowk, Marol Maroshi Bus Stn.	Andheri (E), Marol, Chandivali, Sahar, Maroshi, MBP (Millenium Business Park) - Mahape, Airoli, Bhayandar Rly Station (E), Colaba Depot, Pydhonie, Worli, Powai, Mulund (W), Versova, Ghatkopar (W), Sahar, Thane (W), Vihar Lake
7	Dharavi	धारावी	DH	1980	Bandra-Sion Link Road, Dharavi, Mumbai	2L, 11L, 27, 87L, 164, 303, C-305 Exp, 310, 313, 311, 316, 317, BKC-1, BKC-3, BKC-21 (AC), BKC-22 (AC), BKC-23 (AC)	Dharavi Depot, Bandra Rly Ter [E], Bandra Colony Bus Stn., Santacruz Rly Stn (E)	Bandra (E), BKC, Sion, Dharavi, Navy Nagar, Mantralaya, Mazgaon, Bhuleshwar, Mulund (W), Kurla (W), Santacruz (E), Kalina, Borivali (E), Thane (Hiranandani Estate), Mulund (Maharana Pratap Chowk)
8	KalaKilla	काळाकिल्ला	KK	31.01.2016	Bandra-Sion Link Road, Dharavi, Mumbai	46, 52, 63, 66, 176, 352, 463, A-C42 Exp, C-71 Exp, C-72 Exp, C-302 Exp	KalaKilla Depot, Dharavi Depot, Bandra Rly Ter [E], Bandra Colony Bus Stn.	Bandra (E), BKC, Sion, Cotton Green, Dharavi, Dadar (W), Ballard Pier, Mulund (W), Trombay, Mira Road Rly Stn (E), Bhayander Rly Station (E), Ferry Wharf, Matunga (W), Mahim (W)
9	Magathane	मागाठणे	MT	1992	Near Tata Steel, Western Express Highway, Borivali (E), Mumbai-400066.	A209, 297, 298, A301, A477, 498L, 524L, A698, C-700 Exp, A701, A702, 703L, 709L, 710L	Magathane Depot, Borivali Stn. [E], Samata Nagar	Chandivali (Andheri (E)), Borivali (E), Dahisar (E), Ghatkopar (E), Kandivali (E), Thane, Mira Road Rly Station (E), Bhayandar Rly Station (E)
10	Dindoshi	दिंडोशी	DIN	1985	Film City Road, Dindoshi, Mumbai	282, A287, A288, 289, A300, 326, 327, 342, 343, 344, 346, 347, 349, 398L, 447, 451, 452, 523L, 601, 624, 646, 705L, 718L, A624	Dindoshi Depot, Goregaon Stn [E], Kandivali Bus Stn., Shivshahi Prakalp, N.N.P, Gokuldham	Kandivali (E), Malad (E), Kurla (W), Mulund (W), Goregaon (E), Airoli, Mira Road Rly Stn (E), Mira Road (E), Bhayandar Rly Station (E)
11	Majas	मजास	MJ	15.08.1995	J.V.L.R, Jogeshwari (E), Mumbai	35, 308, 319, 332, 333, 392, 410, 415, 428, 492L, 496L, 525L, 545L	Majas Depot, Seepz Bus Stn., Satbhakti Mandir	Jogeshwari (E), Andheri (E), Seepz, Worli, Dadar (W), Vidya Vihar (W), Vashi, Kurla (W), Sahar Airport, Vikhroli (W), Bhandup (W), Airoli, Thane (W)
12	Kurla	कुर्ला	K	1955	L.B.S. Road, Kurla (W), Mumbai	37, 62, A310 Double Decker, A311, A313, 318, 320, 322, 323, 326 , 330L, A332 , A332 Double Decker, 365, 413, A415 Double Decker,426, 446, A507L, A517L, 613, 618, BKC-2	Kurla Stn. [W], Santacruz Stn. [E], Vidyavihar Bus Stn.	Santacruz (E), Kurla (W), BKC, Vidyavihar (W), Malabar Hill, Nepean Sea Road, Dadar (W), Santacruz (E), Bandra (E), Vihar Lake, Vile Parle (E), Andheri (E), Andheri (W), Sahar Cargo Complex, Vashi (APMC Market), Nerul
Western Suburb Zone
13	Bandra	वांद्रे	BN	1980	Bandra Rly Stn (W), Mumbai	80L, 211, 214, 215, 219, 220, 222, 225, 321L, 422, 473, C-55 Exp, C-86 Exp, C-505 Exp	Bandra Bus Stn. [W], Mahim Bus Stn., Bandra Reclamation Bus Stn.	Bandra (W), Bandra (E), Khar (W), Mahim (W), CBD Belapur Bus Stn, Malabar Hill, Colaba, Backbay, Dahisar (E), Malad (E), Ghatkopar (W), Vikhroli (W), Mulund (W), Mahul Village
14	Santacruz	सांताक्रूझ	S	1950	Swami Vivekanand Road, Santacruz (W), Mumbai	28, 51, 79, 83, 201, 203, 224, 231, 339, 355L, 356L, C-1 Exp, C-12 Exp	Santacruz Depot, Juhu Vile Parle Bus Stn., Santacruz Stn. [W]	Santacruz (W), Khar (W), JVPD, Juhu, Dahisar (E), Dahisar (W), Worli, Colaba, Fort, Malabar Hill, Churchgate, Vile Parle (W), Andheri (W), Borivali (W), Jogeshwari (E), Chembur (E), Trombay, Juhu
15	Goregaon	गोरेगांव	GG	1978	Near Motilal Nagar, Goregaon (W), Mumbai	204, 205, 424, 425, 454, 464L, 469L, 707L, C-33 Exp	Goregaon Depot, Goregaon Bus Stn., Jogeshwari Bus Stn.	Goregaon (W), Jogeshwari (W), Sewri, Worli, Dahisar (W), Juhu, Andheri (W), Mulund (W), Bhandup (W), Ghatkopar (E), Goregaon (E), Bhayandar Rly Stn (E)
16	Oshiwara	ओशिवरा	OSH	1990	Oshiwara Village, Goregaon (W), Mumbai	4L, A32, 84L, 200, 221, A203, A221, 223L, A235, 242, A248, 251, A252, 254, A257, 266, A251, A254, A266, A626, A627	Oshiwara Depot, Andheri Stn. [W], Yari Road Bus Stn.	Jogeshwari (W), Andheri (W), Versova, Mazgaon, Mahim, Worli, Wadala, Kandivali (E), JVPD
17	Poisar	पोयसर	P	1966	Swami Vivekanand Road, Kandivali (W), Mumbai	210L, 239, 276, 280, 281, 284, 286, 290L	Poisar Depot, Kandivali Stn. [W]	Kandivali (W), Borivali (W), Dahisar (W), Juhu, Andheri (W), Malwani, Malad (E), Andheri (E)
18	Gorai	गोराई	GR	29.01.1996	Lokmanya Tilak Road, Gorai, Mumbai	A202, A203, A206, A208, A226, A240, A244, A245, A246, A247, A259, A269, A277, A294, A345, 460L, 461L	Gorai Depot, Borivali Stn. [W], P. Thakre Nagar Bus Stn., Kandharpada Bus Stn.	Gorai, Borivali (W), Andheri (W), Dahisar (W), Dahisar (E), Goregaon (E), Andheri (E), Mulund (W), Mahim (W), Santacruz (W), Ghatkopar (W), Madh
19	Malvani	मालवणी	MLV	26.01.1991	Malvani, Malad (W), Mumbai	A180, 207, 241, A256, A273, A359, A456, 459L, A620, A621, A622	Malvani Depot, Madh Jetty, Marve	Malad (W), Malvani, Madh, Mulund (W), Sahar, Andheri (W), Dahisar (E), Mahim (W), Juhu, Powai, Goregaon (E), Bhayander (E)
20	Malad	मालाड	MLD	01.04.2014	Chincholi Bunder, Malad (W), Mumbai	243, 262, 270, 271, 272	Malad Depot, Malad Stn. (W), Malad Stn. [E]	Malad (W), Sainath Marg, Anand Marg, Marve Beach, Madh Island, Chunabhatti, Sion, Goregaon (W),
Eastern Suburb Zone
21	Anik	आणिक	A	1988	Salt-pan Road, Wadala, Mumbai.	A5, 58, A59, 75, 85, 181, A341, A360, A361, A362, 363, A367, A369, A377, A431, A432	Anik Depot, Kurla Bus Stn. East, Chunabhatti Bus Terminus	Kurla (E), Sion, Anik, Chunabhatti, Mahul Village, Dahisar (E), Trombay, Airoli, Churchgate, Wadala (E), Dadar, Mazgaon, Sion, Cuffe Parade, Girgaon
22	Prateeksha Nagar	प्रतीक्षानगर	PN	1996	Salt-pan Road, Wadala, Mumbai	9, 14, 15, 43, 60, 67, 88, 169, 172, 255L, 312, 348L, 501L	Prateeksha Nagar Depot, Antop Hill, Antop Hill Extn.	Antop Hill, Wadala (E), Matunga (E), Borivali (E), Colaba, Churchgate, Mazgaon, Malabar Hill, Kurla (E), Airoli
23	Deonar	देवनार	D	1969	Sion–Trombay Road, Deonar, Mumbai	A21, A26 Exp, A92, A364, A380, A382, 399L, 502L, 504L, A663, C-21 Exp, A-60 Exp	Deonar Depot, Trombay, Anushakti Nagar	Chembur (E), Trombay, Mankhurd, Anushakti Nagar, Borivali (E), Govandi (E), Kharghar, Nerul, Fort, Mahul Village, Sahar
24	Shivaji Nagar	शिवाजीनगर	SN	1998	Govandi, Shivaji Nagar, Mumbai	8L, A19, A350, A357, 372, A375, A376, A379, A383, A404, A488, 489L	Shivaji Nagar Depot, Shivaji Nagar Terminus, Dr. Ambedkar Udyan (Chembur)	Shivaji Nagar, Govandi (W), Chembur (W), Goregaon (E), Mumbai Central, Churchgate, Fort, Bandra (W), Mahim, Chembur Colony, Kurla (E), Chembur (E)
25	Ghatkopar	घाटकोपर	G	1974	Ghatkopar (E), Mumbai	A185, A325, A381, A385, A394, A397, A419, A421, A427, A430, A453, A470L, A481, A494, A499, 511L, 533L, C-53 Exp	Ghatkopar Depot, Ghatkopar Bus Stn., Ghatkopar Stn (E), Ghatkopar Stn (W), Kannamwar Nagar 2	Ghatkopar (W), Ghatkopar (E), Vihar Lake, Chandivali, Kannamwar Nagar, Vashi (APMC Market), Nerul, Kalamboli, Borivali (E), Andheri (E), Thane
26	Vikhroli	विक्रोळी	V	1972	L.B.S Road, Vikroli (W), Mumbai	7L, 331, 386, 387, 416, 418, 478L, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 612	Vikhroli Depot, Bhandup Stn. (W), Kanjurmarg Stn. (W)	Vikhroli (W), Ghatkopar (W), Bhandup (W), Kanjurmarg (W), Hiranandani Bus Depot, Borivali (E), Pydhonie,
27	Mulund	मुलुंड	MU	1999	Devidayal Road, Mulund (W), Mumbai	A391, A396L, A402, A403, A409L, A412, A414, A423, A493, A484, 512L, C-61 Exp, C-513 Exp	Mulund Depot, Mulund Stn. (W), Mulund Bus Stn. [W], Mhada Bus Stn. [E]	Mulund (W), Thane, Mulund (E), Bandra (W), Sewree, Nahur, Vashi Rly Stn, Nerul Bus Stn, Mira Road Rly Stn (E), Andheri (E), Sahar

Bus routes

BEST bus routes are spread citywide and to neighboring cities. BEST operates inter-city services to three areas beyond the municipal limits of Mumbai City; i.e., into the limits of the bordering corporations of Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Mira-Bhayandar. BEST supplements suburban rails, metro rail and monorail in the Mumbai region. It is for this reason that BEST always gives priority for feeder routes over other routes. BEST uses CNG, electric and diesel-powered buses for its operation. BEST introduced Air-conditioned buses in 1998. ^[29]

The majority of BEST buses consist of ordinary routes. Limited bus services that skip minor stops are used on long routes, high-capacity routes, and routes that provide connectivity beyond Mumbai city. The buses have "LTD" appended to the route number. "C" routes are ultra long routes. 5xx LTD numbered buses connect Navi Mumbai with Mumbai. Some buses like A-504, 504 LTD, and C 53 Exp plies till Navi Mumbai's Raigad district, thereby connecting the nodes of Kharghar and Kalamboli with Mumbai. Buses numbered 4xx mostly like 496 LTD and 497 LTD serve Mulund and Thane and provide the connection to greater Mumbai and buses numbered 6xx LTD and 7xx LTD serves Mira-Bhayander region like 706 LTD and 720 LTD. Buses number 3xx most likely cater to eastern suburbs. Buses numbered 2xx mostly serve western suburbs. Buses numbered 1xx mostly serve central suburbs. Buses numbered from 1 to 99 mostly serve South Mumbai (SoBo).

As of 2021, the BEST runs approximately 3,800 buses, ^{[30] [31]} ferrying 5 million passengers ^[32] over 443 routes, and has a workforce strength of 38,000, which includes 22,000 bus drivers and conductors. BEST plans to induct more AC & Non AC buses on wet lease and increase total fleet to 6,000 buses by 2021.

Besides buses, BEST operates a ferry service since 1981 in northern Mumbai, across the Manori Creek. The barges operate at regular intervals across the shallow creek linking Manori to Marve. ^[33]

The BEST bus service suffered two bombings on 6 December 2002 and 28 July 2003 killing six people. In August 2006, BEST introduced payphone system and CCTVs on its buses as a response to terror attacks on the city's buses and trains. ^[34]

Bus routes are updated till 20 January 2023.

Mumbai Ordinary Bus Routes

The following is a list of the bus routes operated by BEST in Mumbai. ^[35]

Route number	Origin	Destination	Notes
1	Electric House/Colaba Depot	Bandra Reclamation Bus Stn
3	Navy Nagar	Jijamata Udyan
9	Colaba Bus Station	Antop Hill
14	Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Chowk	Pratiksha Nagar Depot
15	Mantralaya
27	Rani Laxmibai Chowk (Sion)	Vaishali Nagar, Mulund (W)
28	Dr. Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Chowk (Museum)	J.V.P.D. Bus Station
35	Comrade P.K. Kurne Chowk (Worli)	Marol Maroshi Bus Station
37	J. Mehta Marg	Kurla Bus Station (W)
39	Comrade P.K. Kurne Chowk	Marol Bus Depot
44	Kala Chowky	Worli Bus Depot
45	Backbay Bus Depot	M.M.R.D.A Colony (Extension) Mahul	Also in AC
46	Ferry Wharf	Dharavi Depot
49	Maharana Pratap Chowk	M.M.R.D.A Colony (Extension) Mahul
50	Ferry Wharf	Worli Depot
51	Colaba Bus Station	Santacruz Depot	Via Carter Road
52	Sharawan Yeshwante Chowk (Kala Chowky)	Dharavi Depot
56	Worli Bus Depot	Vesave Yari Road Bus Station
57	Kamala Nehru Park	Prabodhankar Thackray Udyan (Sewree)
58	Wadala Truck Terminal	Kurla Bus Station (East)
61	Swami Dayanand Sarswati Chowk	Machhimar Nagar Mahim
62	Pandit Paluskar Chowk; Opera House	Vidyavihar Bus Station
66	Ballard Pier	Rani Lakshmi Chowk Bus Station	Also in AC
67	Kamala Nerhu Park	Antop Hill
68	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus	Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk
69	Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Chowk - Museum	Prabodhankar Thackray Udyan (Sewree)
75	Bhakti Park Complex (Anik)	Rani Lakshmi Chowk - Sion
76	Mantralaya	Pratiksha Nagar Depot
79	Santacruz Bus Depot	Gorai Depot
83	Colaba Bus Station	Santacruz Depot
85	Pt. Paluskar Chowk	Kurla Bus Station (E)
88	Mantralaya	Pratiksha Nagar Depot
89		Worli Depot
110	Sangam Nagar (Wadala East)	Comrade P.K. Kurne Chowk (Worli)
120	Marine Lines Railway Station	Dawa Bazar
123	R.C. Church	Vasantrao Naik Chowk
125	Colaba Bus Station	Worli Village
126	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus	Jijamata Udyan
	Mantralaya
135	J. Mehta Marg	Ferry Wharf
151		Wadala Bus Depot
154	Byculla Railway Station (West)	Nehru Planetarium
164	Maharana Pratap Chowk (Mazgaon)	Dharavi Bus Depot
165	Kasturbha Gandhi Chowk	Maheshwari Udyan
166	Vasantrao Naik Chowk	Bharani Naka (Antop Hill)
168	Lal Bahadur Shastri College	Wadala Bus Depot
169	Worli Village	Pratiksha Nagar Bus Depot
171	Worli Bus Depot	Chunabhatti Bus Terminus
172	Prateeksha Nagar Bus Depot	Comrade P.Kurne Chowk (Worli)
176	Rani Laxmibai Chowk (Sion)	Hinduja Hospital
181	SEEPZ Village	Antop Hill Extension
200	Versova-Yari Road Bus Station	Wadala Bus Depot	Sometimes only till Mahim Bus Station
201	Santacruz Bus Depot	Sewree Bus Station
203	Juhu Beach	Andheri Station (West)
204	Goregaon (West) Bus Station	Dahisar Bridge
205	Jogeshwari (West) Bus Station	Gomant Nagar (Dahisar West)
207	Malvani Bus Depot	Dahisar Bus Station
209	Ashish Complex (Dahisar West)	Samata Nagar Bus Station (Kandivali West)
211	Bandra Railway Station (West)	Fr. Agnel Ashram (Bandra West)
212	Sewree Bus Station	Bandra Reclamation
213		Santacruz Railway Station (East)
212	TATA Colony (Bandra East)	Bandra Reclamation
214	Bandra Railway Station (West)	Mount Mary Steps (Bandra West)
220	Khar Railway Station (West)	Bandra Bus Station (West)
221	Andheri Railway Station (West)	Versova-Yari Road Bus Station
222	Chuim Village Bandra (West)	Bandra Bus Station (West)
224	Borivali Railway Station (West)	Santacruz Depot
225	Dindoshi Bus Depot	Bandra Bus Station (West)
231	Juhu Bus Depot	Santacruz Railway Station (West)
239	Charkop Sector 9	Kandivali Railway Station (West)
241	Malvani Bus Depot	Mahim Bus Station	Sometimes till Wadala Bus Depot
242	Andheri Railway Station (West)	Millat Nagar
243	Jankalyan Nagar	Malad Railway Station (West)
262	Goregaon Bus Station West	Malad Mindspace
266	Shree Swami Samarth Nagar (Extension)	Andheri Railway Station (West)
270	Pumping Center Malvani	Malad Railway Station (West)
271	Madh Jetty
272	Marve Beach - Essel World
276	Charkop Sector 6	Kandivali Railway Station (West)
281	Pushpa Park (Malad East)
281	Damu Nagar (Extension)	Kandivali Bus Station (East)
281	S.K Resort Borivali West	Kandivali Railway Station (West)
286	Charkop Village
281	Anita Nagar (Extension)	Kandivali Railway/Bus Station (East)
298	Rawalpada (Ashok Van)	Borivali Railway Station (East)
303	Bandra Bus Station (East)	Mulund Railway Station (West)
307	Marol Bus Depot	Vaishali Nagar (Mulund West)
308	Majas Bus Depot	Vidyavihar Bus Station West
310	Bandra Bus Station (East)	Kurla Railway Station (West)
312	Pratiksha Nagar Bus Depot	SEEPZ Bus Station
313	Santacruz Railway Station (East)	Kurla Railway Station (West)	Via Kapadia Nagar
316	Bandra Bus Station (East)	Bandra Colony Bus Station
317		TATA Colony Bandra East
319	Majas Bus Depot	Kurla Railway Station (West)
320	Filter Pada
320	Santacruz Railway Station (East)	Vidyavihar Bus/Railway Station (West)
323	Chandivali
326	Shivshahi Prakalp; Mantri Park	Kurla Railway Station (West)
327		Goregaon Railway Station (East)
328	Bamandaya Pada	Versova - Yari Road Bus Station	Temporarily Suspended due to Gokhale Bridge Closure
331	Ghatkopar Railway Station (West)	Sahar Cargo Complex
333	Maharishi Valmiki Chowk - Andheri East	Mahakali Caves
335	Andheri Railway Station (East)	Chandivali
336	JVPD Bus Depot	Vidyavihar Bus Station (West)	Temporarily Suspended due to Gokhale Bridge Closure
339	Majas Bus Depot	Juhu Bus Station
341	Goregaon Railway Station (East)	Antop Hill
342		Kokan Vikas; Aarey Colony
343		Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagri; Filmcity
344		Sankalp Society
346		Shivshahi Prakalp; Mantri Park
349	Marol Bus Depot	Santosh Nagar (Extension)
351	Mumbai Central Bus Depot	TATA Power Center Mahul
352	Rani Laxmibai Chowk (Sion)	Trombay
354	Worli Bus Depot	Kannamwar Nagar No.2
360	Kurla Bus Station (East)	Trombay
361		Mahul Village
363			Via RCF Colony
365	Kurla Railway Station (West)	Sahar Cargo Complex
384	Ghatkopar Bus Station	Hiranandani; Powai Bus Station
386		Nagbaba Mandir, Powai
392	Majas Bus Depot	Vikhroli Bus Depot
410	Mahakali Caves
411	Sangharsh Nagar (Chandivali)	Wadala Bus Depot
415	Majas Bus Depot	Andheri Railway Station (East)/ Agarkar Chowk
418	Hiranandani; Powai Bus Station	Vikhroli Railway Station (West)
422	Bandra Bus Station (West)	Vikhroli Bus Depot
423	Maharana Pratap Chowk/ Mulund Check Naka	MHADA Colony (Chandivali)
424	Mulund Railway Station (West)	Goregaon & Oshiwara Bus Depot	Diverted Via Jogeshwari due to Gokhale Bridge Closure
425	Shivaji Talao (Bhandup West)	Versova - Yari Road Bus Station
426	Filterpada	Vidyavihar Railway Station (West)
428	Shivaji Talao (Bhandup West)	Sadbhakti Mandir (Jogeshwari East)
429	Milind Nagar (Asalfha)	Ghatkopar Railway Station (West)
432	Kurla Railway/Bus Station (East)	Vivekananda School (Chembur)
446	Kurla Railway Station (West)	Bamandaya Pada
452	Goregaon Railway/Bus Station (East)	Mayur Nagar (Aarey Colony)
454	Shivshahi Prakalp; Mantri Park	Seven Bungalows Bus Station
463	Rani Laxmibai Chowk (Sion)	Veer Hutatma Bhai Kotwal Udyan (Plaza)
473	Mahul Village	Bandra Bus Station (West)
601	Anand Nagar (Malad East)	Malad Railway Station (East)
602	Hiranandani; Powai Bus Station	Kanjurmarg Railway Station (West)
603	RCF Colony (Bhandup Village)	Amrut Nagar (Vikhroli West)
663	Mahul Village	Trombay
701	Samata Nagar Bus Station (Kandivali East)	Mira Road Railway Station (East)	Via Srushti Complex - Jain Mandir - Shanti Nagar
703			Via Kashimira - Jangid Circle

Mumbai Air Condition bus routes

The following is a list of the air conditioned bus routes operated by BEST in Mumbai. ^[35]

Route number	Origin	Destination	Notes
AS-1	Bandra Reclamation Bus Station	Electric House/Colaba Depot
AS-5	Kurla Bus Station (East)	Mantralaya
AS-14	M.G Hospital Parel	R.C Church Colaba
AS-19	Mantralaya	Shivaji Nagar Bus Station (West)
AS-21	Trombay	Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Chowk (Museum)
AS-22	Bandra Bus Station (East)	Kurla Railway Station (West)
AS-23		C.A Institute (B.K.C)
AS-25	Backbay Bus Depot	Kurla Bus Depot
AS-26	Anushakti Nagar Bus Station	Electric House, Colaba Bus Depot
AS-30	Electric House, Colaba Bus Depot	Chunabhatti Bus Terminus
AS-32	Goregaon Bus Station (West)	Versova-Yari Road Bus Station
AS-41	Ferry Warf	Colaba Bus Station
AS-59	Veer Hutatma Bhai Kotwal Udyan (Dadar)	Kurla Bus Station (East)
AS-60	Maharana Pratap Chowk
AS-63	J. Mehta Marg - Napean Sea Road	Byculla Station (W)
AS-64	Kala Chowky	Dadar Railway Station (East)
AS-77	Breach Candy Hospital	Byculla Station (W)
AS-82	Mantralaya	Worli Bus Depot
AS-85	Kurla Bus Station (East)	Opera House (Pt. Paluskar Chowk)
AS-86	Comrade P.K Kurne Chowk (Doordarshan)	Backbay Bus Depot
AS-92	Vasant Rao Naik Chowk	Anushakti Nagar Bus Station
AS-100	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus	Free Press Journal Road
AS-101	Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Chowk (Museum)	Mahatma Phule Market (Crawford Market)
AS-102	Vijay Vallabh Chowk (Pydhonie)	Grant Road Railway Station (E)
AS-103	R.C. Church	Kamala Nehru Park
AS-104	Nana Chowk	J. Mehta Marg
AS-105	Kamala Nehru Park	Novelty Cinema
AS-106	R.C. Church	Kamala Nehru Park (Malabar Hill)
AS-107	Navy Nagar Colaba	Mahatma Phule Market (Crawford Market)
AS-108	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus	Kamala Nehru Park (Malabar Hill)
AS-109	Mahatma Phule Market (Crawford Market)	R.C. Church
AS-111	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus	Gateway of India
AS-112	Ahilyabai Holkar Chowk (Churchgate)
AS-113	Khadi Bhandar	Mahatma Phule Market (Crawford Market)
AS-115	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus	N.C.P.A
AS-116		Gateway of India
AS-117	Sangam Nagar (Wadala East)	Wadala Railway Station (West)
AS-118	Dadar Railway Station (West)	Worli Village
AS-119	Kasturba Gandhi Chowk (C.P Tank)	Opera House (Pt. Paluskar Chowk)
AS-120	Mangaldas Market
AS-121	Backbay Bus Depot	J. Mehta Marg (Napean Sea Road)
AS-122	Ballard Pier	Ahilyabai Holkar Chowk (Churchgate)
AS-124	Colaba Bus Station	Worli Bus Depot
AS-134	Backbay Bus Depot	Prabodhankar Thackray Udyan (Sewree)
AS-135	J. Mehta Marg	Ferry Wharf
AS-136	Backbay Bus Depot	Ahilyabai Holkar Chowk
AS-137	Navy Nagar
AS-138	Backbay Bus Depot	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
AS-139	Geetanagar (Colaba)
AS-153	Byculla Railway Station (W)	Nair Hospital
AS-155	Grant Road Railway Station (W)	Cumbala Hill Post Office
AS-162	Prabodhankar Thackray Udyan (Sewree)	Worli Village
AS-163		Byculla Railway Station (East)
AS-167	Comrade P.K. Kurne Chowk (Worli)	Prabhadevi Railway Station (West)
A-170	Lower Parel Railway Station
A-171	Chunabhatti Bus Terminus	Worli Bus Depot
AS-174	Antop Hill	Veer Hutatmanbai Kotwal Plaza (Dadar)
AS-175		Wadala Railway Station (West)
AS-177	Kala Chowky	Parel Railway Station (East)
AS-180	Malavani Bus Depot	Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport	Sometimes only till Andheri Railway Station (West)
AS-185	Andheri Railway Station (East)	Kannamwar Nagar No.2	Via Saki Naka
AS-186		Vihar Lake
AS-203	Dahisar Bridge	Juhu Beach	Operated till Andheri Station (West) on Down Route and until Borivali Station (West) on Up Route
AS-206	Borivali Railway Station (West)	IC Colony
AS-216	Borivali Railway Station (West)	Sanskruti Complex (Borivali West)	Via S.V Road
As-217	Dadar Railway Station (East)	Mint Colony
AS-218		TB Hospital
A-219	Bandra Bus Station (West)	Bandra Reclamation Bus Station
A-221	Andheri Railway Station (West)	Natasha Tower
A-234	Jogeshwari West Bus Station	Versova-Yari Road Bus Station
A-235	Millat Nagar	Andheri Railway Station (West)
AS-240	Shanti Ashram Borivali West	Kandarpada Bus Station
AS-244	Borivali Railway Station (West)	Kandivali Railway Station (West)	Via Charkop Village
AS-246	Borivali Railway Station (West)	Kandivali Railway Station (West)	Via I.E.S School
AS-245	Charkop Bus Station	Kandarpada Bus Station
AS-247	Gorai Creek	Borivali Railway Station (West)
A-248	Ramesh Nagar	Andheri Railway Station (West)
A-249	Versova Village
A-251	Versova Yari Road Bus Station	Seven Bungalows Bus Station
A-252	Sardar Patel Nagar	Andheri Railway Station (West)
A-254	Veera Desai Road (Extension)
AS-256	Malvani Depot	Juhu Beach
A-257	J.V.P.D Bus Station	Andheri Railway Station (West)
A-261	Jogeshwari Bus Station West	Goregaon Bus Station West
A-263	Bangur Nagar (Goregaon West)
A-264	Samarth Nagar (Jogeshwari East)	Sadhbhakti Mandir
A-266	Shree Swami Samarth Nagar (Extension)	Andheri Railway Station (West)
A-268	Shree Swami Samarth Nagar Circle
AS-269	Madh Jetty	Borivali Railway Station (West)
AS-273	MHADA Colony Malvani	Malad Railway Station (West)
277	Borivali Railway Station (West)	Kandivali Railway Station (West)	Via Charkop Sector 6
AS-283	Dindoshi Bus Depot	Damu Nagar (Extension)	Via S.V Road
AS-287	Thakur Village	Kandivali Bus Station (East)
AS-288	Kranti Nagar
AS-293	Shree Krishna Nagar Post Office	Jai Maharashtra Nagar (Borivali East)
AS-294	Kranti Nagar	Borivali Bus/Railway Station (West)
AS-296	Eksar Metro Station (Borivali West)	Shanti Ashram (Borivali West)	Via S.V Road
AS-297	Kokanipada (Borivali East)	Borivali Bus/Railway Station (East)
AS-299	Borivali Bus/Railway Station (East)	Jai Maharashtra Nagar (Borivali East)
AS-300	Kandivali Bus/Railway Station (East)	Sanskriti Apartment (Kandivali East)
AS-301	Borivali Bus/Railway Station (East)	Hanuman Tekdi (Borivali East)
AS-302	Maharana Pratap Chowk (Mulund Check Naka)	Rani Laxmibai Chowk (Sion)
AS-311	Kurla Railway Station (West)	Santacruz Railway Station (East)	Via Kalina
AS-318			Via Vidyanagari
AS-325	Ghatkopar Bus Depot	Kurla Railway Station (West)
AS-332	Agarkar Chowk (Andheri East)		Can be double decker AC bus
AS-334	Marol Bus Depot	Ghatkopar Bus Station
AS-337	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport	Andheri Railway Station (East)
AS-338	Sahar Cargo Airport Complex
AS-340	Ghatkopar Bus Station	Mahul Village
AS-341	Rani Laxmibai Chowk (Sion)	Antop Hill
AS-345	Gorai Bus Depot	Santosh Nagar (Extension)
AS-347	Gokuldham	Goregaon Railway Station (East)
AS-350	Shivaji Nagar Bus Station	Kurla Bus/Railway Station (East)
AS-357		Mumbai Central Bus Depot
AS-359	Malvani Bus Depot	Hiranandani; Powai Bus Station
AS-362	Kurla Bus Station (East)	Dr. B R Ambedkar Udyan	via Chembur Colony
AS-364	Trombay	Mahul Village	via Deonar Village
AS-366	Kurla Bus Station (East)	Shivaji Nagar Terminus
AS-367		Gadkari Quarry
AS-368	Mulund Bus Depot	Sewree Bus Station
AS-369	Kurla Bus Station (East)	Vashi Naka (Chembur)
AS-370	MHADA Colony Bus Station (Mulund East)	Kelkar College
AS-372	Ghatkopar Bus Station	Trombay
AS-375	Shivaji Nagar Bus Station	Bandra Bus Station (West)	Express Route
AS-376		Mahim Bus Station
AS-377	Kurla Bus Station (East)	S.R.A Colony (Mankhurd)
AS-378	Mankhurd Railway Station (South)	Trombay
AS-379	Ghatkopar Railway Station (East)	Shivaji Nagar Terminus
AS-380		Trombay
AS-381	Ghatkopar Bus Station	TATA Power Center (Mahul)
AS-382	Anushakti Nagar Bus Station	Sahar Air Cargo Complex
AS-383	Shivaji Nagar Bus Station	Gadkari Quarry
AS-385	Ghatkopar Bus Station	Comrade P. Kurne Chowk (Worli)
AS-386	Ghatkopar Railway Station (West)	Barve Nagar
AS-391	Mulund Railway Station (West)	Khindipada Dargah
AS-394	Vikhroli Bus Station (East)	Kannamwar Nagar No. 2
AS-396	Andheri Railway Station (East)	Mulund (West) Check Naka Bus Station	Via Saki Naka
AS-397	Vikhroli Bus Station (East)	Kannamwar Nagar No. 124
AS-401	Mulund Railway Station (West)	Vaishali Nagar (Mulund West)	Via Bhakti Marg
AS-402			Via ESIC Hospital
AS-403	Andheri Railway Station (East)/ Agarkar Chowk	MHADA Colony Bus Station (Mulund East)	Via MIDC, SEEPZ
AS-404	Ghatkopar Railway Station (East)	Shivaji Nagar Bus Station
AS-405	Mulund Railway Station (West)	Yogi Hills (Mulund West)
AS-406	Ghatkopar Railway Station (East)	Railway Police Colony
AS-412	Mulund Railway Station (West)	Ghati Pada
AS-413	Santacruz Railway Station (East)	Kunchi Kurve Nagar
AS-414	Mulund Railway Station (West)	Nahur Bus Station
AS-415	Agarkar Chowk (Andheri - E)	SEEPZ Village	Double decker AC bus
AS-416	Ghatkopar Railway Station (West)	Amrut Nagar (Vikhroli West)
AS-419	Ghatkopar Bus Station	Sangharsh Nagar (Chandivali)
AS-421	Ghatkopar Railway Station (West)	MHADA Colony (Chandivali)
AS-427	Ghatkopar Bus Station	Filter Pada
AS-430		Mahul Village
AS-431	Kurla Railway/Bus Station (East)	TATA Power Center (Mahul)
AS-434	Andheri Railway Station (East)/Agarkar Chowk	Bamandaya Pada
AS-435		Om Nagar (Warehouse)
AS-441		Majas Bus Depot
AS-442	Sadbhakti Mandir	Majas MHADA Colony
AS-443	Andheri Railway Station (East)/Agarkar Chowk	Bamandaya Pada
AS-447	Goregaon Railway Station (East)	Santosh Nagar Extension
AS-449	Dindoshi Bus Depot	Balasaheb Thackray Trauma Center (SRP Camp)
AS-451	Goregaon Railway Station (East)	Aadarsh Nagar (Aarey Colony)
AS-456	Shivshahi Prakalp; Mantri Park	Malvani Bus Depot
AS-462	Borivali Railway Station (East)	Vaishali Nagar (Dahisar East)
AS-477		Rushi Van (Dahisar East)
AS-479		Janta Nagar (Kandivali East)
AS-481	Ghatkopar Bus Station	Vashi Naka (Chembur)
AS-484	Pawar Nagar Bus Station (Thane)	MHADA Colony (Mulund East)
AS-488	Shivaji Nagar Bus Station	Dindoshi Bus Depot
AS-493	Anushakti Nagar Bus Station	Maharana Pratap Chowk (Mulund Check Naka)
AS-504	Jalvayu Vihar (Kharghar)	Deonar Depot
AS-604	Kanjurmarg Railway Station (West)	Bhandup Railway Station (West)
AS-605	Tembipada
AS-606	Nagardas Nagar
AS-607	Tulshetpada
AS-608	Hanuman Nagar (Bhandup West)	Kanjurmarg Railway Station (West)
AS-612		Bhandup Railway Station (West)
AS-613	Sundar Baug	Vidyavihar Bus Station (West)
AS-618	Datta Mandir	Santacruz Railway Station (East)
AS-620	Malad Bus Depot	Malad Railway Station (West)
AS-621	Ushma Nagar
AS-622	Jankalyan Nagar
AS-624	Anand Nagar; Appapada (Malad East)	Malad Railway Station (East)
AS-626	Bhuje Talao	Malad Railway Station (West)
A-627	Andheri Railway Station (West)	Mora Village (Juhu)
AS-629	Samata Nagar Bus Station (Kandivali East)	Borivali Railway Station (East)
AS-646	Naagri Niwara 1&2	Goregaon Railway Station (East)
AS-647	Shivshai Prakalp / Mantri Park	Goregaon Check Naka (Aarey Metro Station)
AS-691	Amar Nagar	Mulund Railway Station (West)
AS-696	Konkanipada (Extension)	Dahisar Railway Station (East)
AS-698	National Park (Borivali East)	Borivali Railway Station (East)
AS-808	World Trade Center	Ahilyabai Holkar Chowk (Churchgate)
AS-809	N.C.P.A

Mumbai Limited Bus Routes

The following is a list of the limited bus routes operated by BEST in Mumbai. ^[35]

Route number	Origin	Destination	Notes
2 LTD	Bandra Colony Bus Station	Electric House, Colaba Bus Depot
4 LTD	Goregaon-Oshiwara Bus Depot	J.J Hospital
6 LTD	TATA Power Center Mahul	Electric House, Colaba Bus Depot	Sometimes till Mahul Village
7 LTD	Vikhroli Bus Depot	Vijay Vallabh Chowk (Pydhonie)
8 LTD	Shivaji Nagar Terminus	Mantralaya
11 LTD	Bandra Colony Bus Station	Navy Nagar	Sometimes only till Electric House, Colaba Bus Depot
21 LTD	Trombay	Dr. Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Chowk (Museum)
25 LTD	Vihar lake	Sewree Bus Station
80 LTD	Walkeshwar	Bandra Bus Station (West)
84 LTD	Goregaon-Oshiwara Bus Depot	Worli Bus Depot
87 LTD	Bandra Colony Bus Station	Mantralaya
188 LTD	Borivali Railway Station (East)	Kanheri Caves
202 LTD	Mahim Bus Station	Gorai Bus Depot
210 LTD	Versova-Yari Road Bus Station	Dahisar Bridge	Mostly only till Poisar Depot
223 LTD	Samata Nagar Bus Station (Kandivali East)	Seven Bungalows Bus Station
226 LTD	Prabodhankar Thackeray Nagar Bus Station (Charkop)	Barve Nagar
255 LTD	J.V.P.D Bus Station	Pratiksha Nagar Bus Depot
321 LTD	Mahim Bus Station	Barve Nagar
330 LTD	Andheri Railway Station (East)/ Agarkar Chowk	Kurla Railway Station (West)
348 LTD	Dindoshi Bus Depot	Pratiksha Nagar Bus Depot
355 LTD	Santacruz Bus Depot	Trombay
356 LTD	Santacruz Bus Depot	TATA Power Center Mahul	Sometimes only till Vashi Naka, Chembur
373 LTD	Vaishali Nagar (Mulund West)	Mahul Village
388 LTD	Santacruz Railway Station (East)	Kannamwar Nagar No. 2
396 LTD	Andheri Railway Station (East)/ Agarkar Chowk	Mulund Check Naka/ Maharana Pratap Chowk
398 LTD	Dindoshi Bus Depot
399 LTD	Trombay	Marathon Chowk/ Teen Haath Naka (Thane)
409 LTD	Mulund Bus Depot	Sahar Air Cargo Complex
453 LTD	Ghatkopar Bus Station	Lokmanya Nagar (Thane)
459 LTD	Malvani Bus Depot	Mulund Railway Station (West)
460 LTD	Gorai Bus Depot
461 LTD	Charkop Bus Station	Mulund Check Naka/ Maharana Pratap Chowk
464 LTD	Goregaon-Oshiwara Bus Depot	Ghatkopar Bus Station
469 LTD		Mulund Check Naka/ Maharana Pratap Chowk
470 LTD	Ghatkopar Bus Station	Borivali Railway Station (East)
478 LTD	Vikhroli Bus Depot
489 LTD	Shivaji Nagar Bus Station	Dindoshi Bus Depot
492 LTD	Bhoomi Acres (Thane)	Majas Bus Depot
494 LTD	Reti Bunder (Kalwa)	Ghatkopar Bus Station
496 LTD	Andheri Railway Station (East)/ Agarkar Chowk	Marathon Chowk/ Teen Haath Naka (Thane)
498 LTD	Borivali Railway Station (East)	Sangharsh Nagar (Chandivali)
499 LTD	Ghatkopar Bus Station	Vrindavan Society (Thane)
501 LTD	Airoli Bus Station	Kurla Railway/Bus Station (East)
502 LTD	Nerul Sector 46;48	TATA Power Center (Mahul)
504 LTD	Jalvayu Vihar (Kharghar)	Deonar Bus Depot
505 LTD	CBD Belapur Bus Station	Bandra Bus Station (West)	Also a corridor Route
506 LTD	Nerul Bus Station	Deonar Bus Depot
507 LTD	Vashi Sector 19	Santacruz Railway Station (East)
511 LTD	Nerul Bus Station	Ghatkopar Bus Depot
512 LTD		Maharana Pratap Chowk (Mulund Check Naka)
514 LTD	Airoli Bus Station	Mulund Bus Depot
517 LTD	Vashi Sector 19	Santacruz Railway Station (East)
522 LTD	Millenium Business Park (Mahape)	Marol Bus Depot
523 LTD	Airoli Bus Station	Dindoshi Bus Depot
524 LTD	Ghatkopar Bus Station	Borivali Railway Station (East)
525 LTD	Majas Bus Depot	Vashi Railway Station
526 LTD	Jijamata Udyan (Zoo) Byculla	Jalvayu Vihar (Kharghar)
533 LTD	Andheri Railway Station (West)	Vashi Sector 19
545 LTD	Airoli Bus Station	Andheri Railway Station (East) / Agarkar Chowk
702 LTD	Magathane Bus Depot	Ghodbunder Village
705 LTD	Dindoshi Bus Depot	Western Park
706 LTD	Marol Bus Depot	Bhayandar Railway Station (East)
707 LTD	Goregaon-Oshiwara Bus Depot
709 LTD	Magathane Bus Depot
710 LTD		Bhayandar Railway Station (West)
720 LTD	Malvani Bus Depot	Bhayandar Railway Station (East)

Mumbai Corridor Bus Routes

The following is a list of the corridor bus routes operated by BEST in Mumbai. ^[35]

Route number	Origin	Destination	Notes
C-1	Colaba Bus Station	Santacruz Depot
C-10	Dharavi Bus Depot	Electric House, Colaba Bus Depot
C-11
C-12	Santacruz Bus Depot	Dahisar Bus Station (Dahisar Check Naka)
C-15	Dindoshi Bus Depot	Worli Bus Depot
C-21	Colaba Bus Depot	Anushakti Nagar Bus Station
C-33	Goregaon Bus Station (West)	Worli Bus Depot
C-40	Dindoshi Bus Depot	Sewree Bus Station
C-42	Daldani Park (Thane)	Rani Laxmibai Chowk (Sion)	Also in AC Service
C-53	Kalamboli Bus Station	Ghatkopar Bus Station
C-54	Airoli Bus Station	Worli Bus Depot
C-55	C.B.D. Belapur Bus Station	Bandra (West) Bus Station
C-60	Deonar Bus Depot	Borivali Railway Station (East)	Sometimes in AC Service
C-61	Mira Road Railway Station (East)	Mulund Bus Depot
C-71		Mahim Bus Station
C-72	Bhayandar Railway Station (East)	Rani Laxmibai Chowk (Sion)	AC route
C-86	Bandra Reclamation Bus Station	Backbay Bus Depot
C-305	Dharavi Bus Depot
C-373	Gawanpada (Mulund East)	Bandra Reclamation Bus Station
C-440	Borivali Railway Station (East)	Wadala Bus Depot
C-505	C.B.D. Belapur Bus Station	Bandra (West) Bus Station
C-513	Vashi Railway Station	Mulund Bus Depot
C-521	Ghansoli Village	Wadala Bus Depot	Also a LTD Route
C-700	Magathane Bus Depot	Thane Railway Station (East)	Also a LTD route
C-718	Dindoshi Bus Depot	Bhayandar Railway Station (East)

Special Ring Routes (AC and Non AC)

The following is a list of the special ring routes operated by BEST in Mumbai. Operated from Monday to Saturday except for Sundays and Public Holidays for BKC routes, rest routes operated everyday. These routes connect railway & metro stations to business & residential areas. ^[35]

Route	Route No. on apps	Origin	Destination	Route Map
BKC-1	182	Bandra Bus Station (East)	Diamond Market, BKC	Bandra Bus Station (East) - Kalanagar - MMRDA or Family Court - RBI - Income Tax Office - Tata Colony - Bharat Nagar - Laxmi Tower - Bharat Diamond Bourse - Diamond Market - ICICI Bank - Bharat Nagar - Tata Colony - Income Tax Office - RBI - MMRDA or Family Court - Kalanagar - Bandra Bus Station (East).
BKC-2	183	Kurla Bus Station (West)	Swavalamban Bhavan, BKC	Kurla Bus Station (West) - Buddha Colony - Kurla Depot - Anjanabai Magar - BKC Telephone Exchange - Trident Hotel - US Consulate General - Kautilya Bhavan or Videsh Bhavan - MCA Stadium - Swavalamban Bhavan - Indian Oil - MCA Stadium - Kautilya Bhavan or Videsh Bhavan - US Consulate General - Trident Hotel - BKC Telephone Exchange - Anjanabai Magar - Kurla Depot - Nehru Nagar (LTT SCLR) - Buddha Colony - Kurla Bus Station (West)
BKC-3	187	Bandra Bus Station (East)	CA Institute, BKC	Bandra Bus Station (East) - Kalanagar - MMRDA or Family Court - RBI - Income Tax Office - Tata Colony - MMRDA Open Car Park - Bank of Baroda - Indian Oil - MCA Stadium - CA Institute, BKC - MCA Stadium - Swavalamban Bhavan - MMRDA Open Car Park - Bharat Nagar - Tata Colony - Income Tax Office - RBI - MMRDA or Family Court - Kalanagar - Bandra Bus Station (East).
BKC-21 (AC)	A-21		Diamond Market, BKC	Bandra Bus Station (East) - Kalanagar - MMRDA or Family Court - RBI - Income Tax Office - Tata Colony - Bharat Nagar - Laxmi Tower - Bharat Diamond Bourse - Diamond Market - ICICI Bank - Bharat Nagar - Tata Colony - Income Tax Office - RBI - MMRDA or Family Court - Kalanagar - Bandra Bus Station (East).
BKC-22 (AC)	A-22		Kurla Bus Station (West)	Bandra Bus Station (East) - Kalanagar - MMRDA or Family Court - RBI - Income Tax Office - Tata Colony - Bharat Nagar - ICICI Bank - Diamond Market - Citi Bank - BKC Telephone Exchange - Anjanabai Magar - Kurla Depot - Nehru Nagar (LTT SCLR) - Buddha Colony - Kurla Bus Station (W)
BKC-23 (AC)	A-23		CA Institute, BKC	Bandra Bus Station (East) - Kalanagar - MMRDA or Family Court - RBI - Income Tax Office - Tata Colony - MMRDA Open Car Park - Bank of Baroda - Indian Oil - MCA Stadium - CA Institute, BKC - MCA Stadium - Swavalamban Bhavan - MMRDA Open Car Park - Bharat Nagar - Tata Colony - Income Tax Office - RBI - MMRDA or Family Court - Kalanagar - Bandra Bus Station (East).
PPS-1 (AC)	889	Magathane Bus Depot	Mira Road Railway Station (East)	Magathane Bus Depot - Devipada - National Park Metro Station - Nancy Colony - Gartan Pada (Dahisar East Metro Station) - Dahisar Toll Plaza - Kashimira - Silver Park - Jangid Circle - Sheetal Nagar MTNL - Mira Road Railway Station (East)

Mumbai Airport bus routes

The following is a list of the airport bus routes operated by BEST in Mumbai. As of March 2023, Chalo premium reserved buses are operated on Airport routes. With effect from 24 May 2024, the Chalo Bus services have been stopped. ^[35]

Route	Route No. on apps	Origin	Destination	Notes
Airport-1	S-104	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport	Cuffe Parade Macchimaar Nagar	Only BEST Bus going on Bandra-Worli Sea Link.Not operational anymore.
Airport-2	S-105		Sector 35 (Kharghar)
Airport-3	AS-883		Borivali Railway Station (East)
Airport-4	S-106		Lodha Splendora (Thane)
Airport-5	AS-886		Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Domestic Terminal 1)	Airport Terminal 2 to Airport Terminal 1
Airport-6	S-124		Don Bosco School (Borivali)	Not operational anymore.

On September 9, 2022 BEST announced an advance ticket reservation system for its airport bus service through the Chalo App ^[36]

Mumbai HOHO bus routes

The following is a list of the hop in hop off (HOHO) bus route operated by BEST in Mumbai. ^[35]

Route number	Origin	Destination	Notes
HOHO-1 (AS-885)	Juhu Beach	Gatway of India	Route - Juhu Beach, Linking Road, Hill Road, St. Andrew's Church, Bandra Bandstand, Bandra-Worli Sealink, Worli, Siddhivinayak Temple, Prabhadevi, Nehru Planetarium, Mahalaxmi, Haji Ali Dargah, Pedder Road, Babulnath, Girgaon Chowpatty, Marine Lines, Churchgate, Museum, Gateway of India.
HOHO-2 (AS-885)	Gatway of India	Juhu Beach	Route - Gateway of India, C.S.M.T, J.J Flyover, Jijamata Udyan (Zoo), Parel, Dadar, Mahim, Bandra, SV Road, Juhu Beach.
HOHO-3 Ring (AS-885)	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus	Route - C.S.M.T, J.J Flyover, Jijamata Udyan (Zoo), Mahalaxmi, Haji Ali, Tardeo, Pedder Road, Babulnath, Girgaon Beach, Marine Lines, N.C.P.A, Vidhan Bhavan, Gateway of India, Asiatic Library, Reserve Bank of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus .

Mumbai Premium Bus Routes

The following is a list of the premium bus routes operated by BEST under banner of Chalo Bus in Mumbai. ^[35]

Route number	Origin	Destination	Notes
S-101	Lodha Splendora (Thane)	Maker Maxity (BKC)/MMRDA Or Family Court	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-102	Bandra Railway Station (East)	ONGC Office (BKC)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-103	Lodha Splendora (Thane) Via Hiranandani Estate	Maker Maxity (BKC)/MMRDA Or Family Court	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-106	Lodha Splendora (Thane)	JB Nagar (Andheri)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-107	Lodha Splendora (Thane)	Hiranandani Garden (Powai)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-108	Kanjurmarg Railway Station (West)	One Boulevard (Powai)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-109	Saki Naka Metro Station	Hiranandani Garden (Powai)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-110	Haiko (Powai)	Delfi (Powai)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-111	Lodha Splendora (Thane)	Gundavali Metro Station (Andheri)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-112	MMRDA Car Park (BKC)	Gundavali Metro Station (Andheri)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-113	Bandra Bus Station (East)	Equinox Business Complex (BKC)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-114	Maker Maxity (BKC)	Sector 35 (Kharghar)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-115	Maker Maxity/MMRDA Or Family Court	Sai Sangam (CBD Belapur)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-116	Marol Depot	Sector 35 (Kharghar)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-118	Hindustan Unilever Ltd (Andheri)	Dosti County (Thane)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-120	Bahar Cinema (Andheri)	ONGC Office (BKC)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-121	Agarkar Chowk (Andheri)	Seepz Village	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-122	Agarkar Chowk (Andheri)	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-124	Shimpoli Telephone Exchange (Borivali)	Domestic Airport Terminal 1A	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-125	Laxmi Tower (BKC)/ICICI Bank	Maxus Mall (Bhayander)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-129	Maker Maxity (BKC)/MMRDA Or Family Court	Dosti County (Thane)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-132	Maker Maxity (BKC)	Bhoomi Oscar Circle (Ghansoli)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-143	Borivali Station East	Marathon Chowk Teen Hath Naka (Thane)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-145	World Trade Centre	Manjiri Paradise Sector 35 (Kharghar)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours, and the only BEST bus to go through Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL)
S-146	World Trade Centre	Lodha Splendora (Thane)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-147	Comrade P.K. Kurne Chowk (Worli)	Lodha Splendora (Thane)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-148	Prabodhankar Thakre Nagar Bus Station	Vashi Railway Station	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-149	Prabodhankar Thakre Nagar Bus Station	Vashi Railway Station	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-150	Agarkar Chowk (Andheri)	Vashi Railway Station	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-151	Vanrai Or Mhada Colony	Flower Valley Or Viviana Mall	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-152	Agarkar Chowk (Andheri)	Hiranandani Powai Bus Station	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-153	Mumbai Central Depot	Veer Kotwal Udyan Plaza (Dadar)	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-154	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Via Bhatia Baug	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-155	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Via Bhatia Baug	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-157	Santacruz Railway Station West	Juhu Bus Station	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-158	Father Agnel Ashram (Bandra)	Bandra Bus Station West	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-167	Ahilyabai Holkar Chowk	Ahilyabai Holkar Chowk	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-169	Byculla Railway Station West	Byculla Railway Station West	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours
S-170	Andheri Bus Station West Or Kumkum	Juhu Beach Bus Station	Fully Reserved bus route operated only during peak hours

Types of bus services

Route	Description
Ordinary	Ordinary routes are the most common, with buses on these routes stopping at all stops. Buses traveling on these routes are identified by a white route number on a black background.
Limited	Buses on these routes stop only at major stops and skip all the minor stops in between on high volume routes. They are identified by the route number in red on a white background. The route number ends with 'LTD'.
Special	These buses travel on select routes covering railway station; metro station and the central business districts. These routes are identified by the route number in white on a red background. The route number ends with 'SPL'.
Corridor	These buses travel on ultra long routes which are very high in demand by passengers. These routes are identified by route number in red on a yellow background. The route number starts with 'C'.
Air Conditioned	These bus routes are air conditioned, they can be ordinary, limited or point to point. The route number starts with 'A or AS'.
Airport Premium	These bus routes are air conditioned and serve the International Airport. These routes are identified by route number with word 'AIRPORT' written.
Hop on, Hop off	These bus routes are air conditioned and serve Mumbai Darshan. These routes are identified by word 'HOHO' written. Their livery is a little unique.
Premium	These bus routes are air conditioned and serve under Chalo Bus brand. These buses are reserved, with passengers requiring to book tickets through Chalo App only. No standees allowed and these routes are only operated during peak hours. Their livery is unique.

The routes operated by BEST can be broadly classified in the following categories.

• Feeder Routes: These routes feed the railway stations and metro stations either from the residential complexes or business districts.
• East-west connectors: These are the routes, which run east/west, where railways have no role to play and connect the western suburb with the eastern suburb.
• Trunk routes: These routes run south–north through the city and are almost parallel to the railways.
• Loop routes: Normally BEST routes are point to point, but there are some routes in the city which are one way loops.

Sometimes there are ladies special buses which are deployed during peak hours. Boards are fixed on windows of bus reading 'Ladies Special'. Since 2019, BEST runs special Tejaswini livery buses which are in yellow and pink colour specially for women passenger.

AC standard routes: These are air-conditioned routes across the city.

• AC express routes: These route runs on western and eastern express highways, to provide faster services to the commuters.
• AC standard routes: These are air-conditioned ordinary routes across the city.
• AC feeder routes: These routes feed the railway stations and metro stations either from the residential complexes or business districts.

Since 2019, BEST has introduced conductor-less AC & non-AC buses where passengers have to buy the ticket before boarding the bus or on bus stops. However this is a test project and many passengers as well as staff are not satisfied with this new test project.

Since 2021, BEST has partnered with Chalo app, providing Chalo smart cards and app based ticket booking.

The aforementioned routes are further classified into types depending on the number of stops the bus takes and the type of bus used.

Fares and ticketing

BEST has several options to pay bus fares:

• Single journey (paper ticket issued by the bus conductor and validated by ticket punch)
• Chalo App (digital ticket)
• Chalo Card
• National Common Mobility Card
• Daily pass on Chalo App

The fares vary depending on the type. Paper tickets are valid only for single journey. Commuters have the option to buy a daily pass, distance-wise bus pass values and zonal pass. Students are eligible for discounts on monthly and quarterly passes and senior citizens for discounts on weekly, fortnightly, monthly and quarterly passes. ^[37]

BEST Transport Museum

The BEST Transport Museum is at Anik Bus depot at Wadala. The museum was founded by P D Paranjape, the BEST officer who religiously collected bus tickets, engines, ticket-issuing machines from depots across the city. The museum was set up in 1984 at BEST's Kurla depot and was shifted to Anik depot in 1993. ^[38] The museum traces the evolution of BEST. It houses mini models of charming old BEST buses and ancient trams. Hand-written placards in Marathi and photographs are on display for the public. Entry to the museum is free. ^[39]

Electric department

Power, supplied by the Tata Group is brought to the city across creeks in pylons like these.

Since 1926, the BEST has been sourcing its power from Tata Power, part of the Tata Group conglomerate. The power cables are laid underground, which reduces pilferage and other losses that plague most other parts of India. The nominal rating of power supplied by BEST is 3-phase, 50 Hz, 220/110 kV. Unlike the transport company, the electricity department services only the Mumbai City area, and not the suburbs. It provides power to 5 million residential and commercial establishments ^[40] and over 33,000 street lights within the city limits. As of 2000, BEST supplies a total of 700 MW (938,715 hp), with a consumption of 3,216 GWh (11,578 TJ). ^[41] The electricity department has 6,000 employees. The city has four 110-kV, twenty-two 33-kV and 22-kV substations. BEST has a distribution loss of around 10% (2001), among the lowest in India. In 2006, the RPS (Renewable purchase specification) ^[42] framework came into force, which has made it mandatory for electricity providers to generate or purchase fixed percentage (6% for FY 2009–10) of their power through renewable sources. To comply with this act, BEST plans to install photovoltaic cells in each of its 25 depots. They also plan to use solar power in gardens and street lighting where the demand is low. Another option being considered is the possibility of using the 7,000 tonnes (6,889 long tons; 7,716 short tons) of garbage disposed by the city on a daily basis, which can be potentially used to generate 350 megawatts (469,358 hp) of electricity. ^[43]

Issues

Transport revenues

Electricity revenues: Blue–Income, Red–Expenditure, Green–Net profits

Net profit/loss

In the financial year 2004–05, the company earned ₹ 15142.2 million ^[44] from its electricity department, and 839.18 crore from its transport department. Profits from its electricity department totalled ₹ 152.82 crore (US$35m), and losses in its transport department totalled ₹ 212.86 crore ($48.8m), giving the company a net loss of ₹ 62.04 crore ($14.2m). For the financial year 2005–06, BEST is expected to earn ₹ 15401.3 million ($352.92m) with a profit of ₹ 1408 million ($32.3m) from the electricity department alone. However, its transport department is expected to earn ₹ 9486.8 million ($217.39m), with a loss of ₹ 1403.0 million ($32.26m). This gives it an estimated net loss of ₹ 5 million ($114,575). ^{[45] [46]} Newer management techniques, such as retrenching of excess staff (494 till date), ^[13] and the closure of less patronised routes, have reduced the losses in recent years, from a high of ₹ 1.75 billion ($40.1m) in 2001. ^[47] Daily earnings from its transport system is ₹ 20 million ($458,450). It collects ₹ 7 million ($160,450) worth of five rupee coins daily, ₹ 4.8 million ($110,000) worth of ten and twenty rupee notes, and ₹ 6 million ($137,535) worth of fifty rupee notes, through its fare collection system. This has led a unique situation wherein it has accumulated a surplus of short change. In July 2005, the company floated tender inquiries to 54 banks to exchange the loose change, which totalled ₹ 46.7 million ($1.07m). However, none of the banks sent in a single bid, some citing that their vaults are full, and others saying it would be unprofitable for low denominations, given security considerations. ^[48]

Though the BEST is a government-owned company, it does not receive any financial assistance from the BMC, or the state government. ^[13] BEST also earns revenues by way of advertisements on its buses and bus-stops, and through rent from offices on owned properties. The BEST, being a public utility company, cannot increase electricity and bus fares to maximise its profits. An increase, when effected, is usually carried out to curb losses due to inflation. BMC approval is needed before such an increase goes into effect. Prior 2003 the BEST Understanding was a case Peter paying for Paul means the Electricity Division was in profit and Transport loss, so profit of Electricity was diverted to Transport so break even. The company downstream started after the inception of Electricity Act 2003, in that act it is stated that the profit of Electricity supply cannot be diverted but to be used for same entity. After taking the issue with Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission the company was running by adjusting the profit but after Supreme Court order, it could not adjusted the profit to transport now running in loss.

Culture and awards

BEST has been a quintessential part of life in Mumbai. The red double-decker buses, modelled on the AEC Routemaster buses of London, are one of the defining characteristics of the city. When BEST decided to do away with the double-deckers for operational reasons recently, public protests and sentiment forced it to continue with the service. A move to colour all its buses saffron from red in 1997 also drew in criticism, resulting in the red colour being retained. Bus drivers and conductors have come in for praise in the media for their service during the 2005 Mumbai floods, when they ensured that all the stranded passengers were dropped safely to their respective destinations. A total of 900 buses were damaged. ^[49]

The organisation has received the following awards for safety and management: ^[50]

• The prize for the second best production achievement by an urban transport body in the country for the year 1982.
• The second prize for production achievement in Urban Transport during the year 1984.
• A memento for the Administrative Report and Statement of Accounts of the Undertaking for the year 1983–84 awarded by the selection committee nominated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
• The first place and the Best production achievement award in the category of urban transport for the year 1986–87.
• National Productivity Award for the year 1991–92.
• Award for the best passenger-safety record for the year 1994.
• The award for the Best Passenger-Safety performance in Urban Transport in the whole country instituted by the Association of State Road Transport Undertaking (ASRTU) for the year 1995–96.
• International Road Safety Award for the year 2003.

Future

Among its future plans is the "digitisation project", wherein all underground cables, sub-stations, street lights and bus-stops would be tracked digitally through the geographical information system. It also plans to connect all its electricity meters through a network, so that the readings can be taken remotely, and in realtime, thus obviating the need for monthly manual door-to-door inspection.

See also

• Mumbai Suburban Railway
• Mumbai Metro
• Public transport in Mumbai
• Water transport in Mumbai
• Transport in Maharashtra
• Transport in India
• Maharashtra State Electricity Board
• Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission

References

1. "Growth of Mumbai & its Municipal Corporation". Quarterly journal of the Local Self Government Institute (Mumbai). 1976. p. 13.
2. David, M. D. (1995). Mumbai, the city of dreams: a history of the first city in India. Himalaya Publishing House. pp. 199–200.
3. "Electricity Arrives in Mumbai". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 11 October 2006. Retrieved 12 October 2006.
4. "Electricity Arrives in Mumbai". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 8 October 2006. Retrieved 12 October 2006.
5. "Motor-Bus Appears". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 15 January 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2006.
6. "B.E.S.&T. Company". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 11 October 2006. Retrieved 12 October 2006.
7. "Progress of the Bus Service". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 11 October 2006. Retrieved 12 October 2006.
8. "Alternative modes of Transport". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 6 October 2006. Retrieved 12 October 2006.
9. "Activist Kisan Mehta passes away". Times of India . 9 March 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
10. "Electric Supply". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 9 October 2006. Retrieved 12 October 2006.
11. "Organisational Setup". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 4 June 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2006.
12. "Organisational Setup". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 29 October 2006. Retrieved 12 October 2006.
13. Kuber, Girish (15 August 2005). "Road warrior: City's bus service proves it's BEST". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 29 March 2006. Retrieved 12 October 2006.
14. World Survey of Foreign Railways. Transportation Division, Bureau of foreign and domestic commerce, Washington D.C. 1936. p. 226d.
15. Sen, S (4 May 2023). "BEST's daily bus ridership falls by 2 lakh, fleet size shrinks 11%". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
16. "9 lakh govt vehicles, buses older than 15 yrs to be scrapped from Apr 1: Gadkari". The Times of India. 30 January 2023. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
17. Rao, S (3 May 2023). "Most BEST double-decker buses to be phased out by year end". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
18. Mehta, M (24 May 2022). "BEST inks Rs 3,675 crore deal, India's biggest, to get 2,100 e-buses in 12 months". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
19. Sen, S (21 February 2023). "Country's first electric double-decker bus launched on CSMT-NCPA route in Mumbai". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
20. "Switch Mobility unveils India's first electric double-decker air-conditioned bus". The Economic Times. 18 August 2022. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
21. Mumbai Mirror article published on 29 August 2012
22. "Help line DEPOTS". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 6 March 2001. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
23. "Parking Facilities available at BEST Bus Depot". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 17 December 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
24. Sen, Somit (12 June 2019). "BEST finally gets go-ahead for 1,250 new buses on wet-lease | Mumbai News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
25. Korde, Kailash (9 July 2019). "400 AC buses to make BEST better in Mumbai". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
26. "New & cool: BEST begins 12 new AC services in town, Andheri". Free Press Journal. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
27. "Mumbai To Become First City In The Country To Get 100% Digital Buses With Tap In, Tap Out Facility". India.com. 19 April 2022.
28. Rao, Shashank (18 April 2022). "Tap-in/tap-out ticketing to start this week, BEST passengers will have to board bus from front; watch video". The Free Press Journal.
29. "A timeline of BEST buses in Mumbai". Daily News and Analysis . Mumbai. 29 June 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
30. "3 Puneites in race for Sammelan presidentship". The Times of India.
31. "Composition of Bus Fleet". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 12 February 2005. Retrieved 12 October 2006.
32. "Now running TV ads in Mumbai's BEST buses". Rediff.com. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
33. "Bus Transport Profile". Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST). Archived from the original on 28 June 2002. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
34. DNA Correspondent (26 August 2006). "BEST makes a smart move". Daily News & Analysis . Retrieved 12 October 2006.{{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
35. "BEST". BEST. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
36. "Travelling to Mumbai airport? Now BEST will let you book ticket in advance". The Free Press Journal. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
37. "Buspass Scheme in Detail (2019)" (PDF). BEST Undertaking. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
38. Priyanka Bhosale. "Summer Past-time - BEST TRANSPORT MUSEUM, WADALA". Karmayog.org. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
39. Time Out Mumbai. "BEST Transport Museum". Time Out Mumbai. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
40. The BEST is the best option for Mumbai - Mumbai - DNA. Dnaindia.com. Retrieved on 2013-12-06.
41. "Electricity" (PDF). Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission. Retrieved 12 October 2006.
42. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
43. Albuquerque, Olav (8 July 2005). "Short of funds, BEST looks to solar power". The Times of India . p. 3.
44. 10 million = 10 million. (See Indian numbering system). Rs 100 million = 230,000 US$ approx. Exchange rate: Rs. 43.6 = 1 US$ as of 2005-08-27.
45. 100,000 = 100,000.
46. "Finance". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2006.
47. Joseph, Manu (21 August 2005). "May the Best Man Win". The Times of India . p. 3.
48. Albuquerque, Olav (6 July 2005). "You could now approach BEST for some loose change". The Times of India. TNN. p. 3.
49. "Statistics of Mumbai floods 2005". Karmayog. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
50. "Awards". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 29 October 2006. Retrieved 12 October 2006.

Notes

• May the Best Man Win; Manu Joseph; Times of India , Mumbai; p. 3; 21 August 2005
• BEST will have to wait to become smart; Ashley D'Mello/Times News Network; p. 3;Times of India; 2 July 2005.
• Short of funds, BEST looks to solar power; Olav Albuquerque; Times of India; p. 3; 8 July 2005.
• Exit clause introduced in BEST-TPC pact; Times News Network; p. 4; Times of India; 7 July 2005.
• BEST to hire buses from private operators; Olav Albuquerque; Times of India; p. 7; 4 June 2005.
• You could now approach BEST for some loose change; Olav Albuquerque/TNN; Times of India; p. 3; 2005-07-06.

External links

• Media related to BEST at Wikimedia Commons
• Quotations related to Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport at Wikiquote
• BEST Undertaking Archived 7 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine – Official site of the BEST.
• "Tram-car arrives". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 22 October 2008. Retrieved 27 August 2005.
• "Motor-Bus appears". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 15 January 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2005.
• "Electricity arrives in Mumbai". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 9 April 2005. Retrieved 27 August 2005.
• "B.E.S.&T. Company". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 3 September 2005. Retrieved 27 August 2005.
• "B.E.S.T. Undertaking". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 8 September 2005. Retrieved 27 August 2005.
• "Progress of Bus Service". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 11 October 2006. Retrieved 27 August 2005.
• "Alternative modes of transport". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 6 October 2006. Retrieved 27 August 2005.
• "Electric Supply". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 9 October 2006. Retrieved 27 August 2005.
• "Organisational Setup (Transport)". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 4 June 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2005.
• "Organisational Setup (Electric)". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 29 October 2006. Retrieved 27 August 2005.
• "Financial Highlights and Budget Estimates". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2005.
• "Awards". BEST Undertaking. Archived from the original on 29 October 2006. Retrieved 27 August 2005.
• "Road warrior: City's bus service proves it's BEST". The Economic Times. 15 August 2005. Archived from the original on 29 March 2006. Retrieved 30 August 2005.
• "BEST Committee". Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai. Retrieved 30 August 2005.
• "Electricity (.pdf)" (PDF). Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission. Retrieved 30 August 2005.