BEST expects tax sops to modernise fleet

Autorickshaws eat into revenues in suburbs.

In view of the recent proposals that no investments on buses would be possible during 2008-09 due to mounting losses, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) is hoping for tax sops from Maharashtra government that will provide funds to modernise fleet.

"I had made a proposal to the state government that if they give a tax exemption, or even a tax holiday for five years, the entire fleet can be changed," Uttam Khobragade, General Manager of BEST said.

If the proposal were to be approved, it would free up about Rs 200 crore, which would be used to modernise the entire fleet, he said. However, it was still with the government and no decision has been taken yet in the matter, he added.

Meanwhile, another proposal made to attract travellers has been approved and BEST will soon have dedicated lanes on arterial roads to eastern and western suburbs.

"We are requesting dedicated bus lanes in both the corridors so that our buses can move faster and people are more tempted to get on them," Khobragade said, adding the planned high speed corridor to come up on highways was still some years away from implementation.

Initially, this lane would be introduced in December between Dadar and Thane, and the second between Dahisar and Bandra with high-end airconditioned buses plying on it.

If effectively used by commuters, the scheme would not only ease traffic snarls by reducing the number of vehicles on the road but will also augment revenues, Khobragade said.

With the Railways also introducing smart cards on the suburban lines, the BEST would look to integrate its existing system with theirs to provide greater convenience to commuters.

"The integration with the Railways will take some time but we expect to have a system where travellers can use one card to travel on our buses and trains," Khobragade said.

When asked of how the BEST would deal with the proposed formation of a single transport authority for the city and neighbouring cities in the future, Khobragade said, "Presently almost 95 per cent of the buses are being operated by BEST and if there is the formation of such an authority I presume all services will be merged into BEST."

Despite existing laws preventing the BEST from operating in satellite and neighbouring cities like Navi Mumbai and Thane, he said that BEST if called on was willing to provide its services to them as well.

The BEST had also faced problems in the suburbs with autorickshaws eating into their revenues, but Khobragade said there was little they could do about it.

"We cannot keep turning to the police to solve our problem and it is up to the people to decide to take our buses in the interest of traffic and to reduce pollution," he said.