Mumbai Commuters Fume as BEST Doubles Bus Fares; Daily Travel Now Costs Rs 24–30

Mumbai | May 9, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has implemented a steep hike in bus fares starting Friday, drawing widespread anger and frustration from daily commuters across Mumbai. The fare revision, which has doubled ticket prices, is being met with backlash as many passengers say the increased travel cost is unaffordable.

Effective from May 9, the minimum fare for non-AC buses has increased from Rs 5 to Rs 10, while AC bus fares now start at Rs 12, up from the earlier Rs 6. Regular commuters now face daily travel expenses ranging between Rs 24 and Rs 30, causing many to express dismay over the sudden financial burden.

“I can’t afford to spend Rs 30 every day just on bus fares,” said one office-goer at Dadar terminus. Social media platforms, especially X (formerly Twitter), saw a surge in posts from irate commuters, with many questioning the logic of increasing fares without visible improvement in service frequency or fleet quality.

The fare hike was approved by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) in a bid to rescue BEST from a deep financial crisis. Officials revealed that annual passenger revenue has dipped below Rs 700 crore in recent years. The revised fares are expected to generate an additional Rs 590 crore annually, a much-needed boost to keep the public transport service afloat.

BEST officials clarified that the fare hike was essential to maintain operations, especially after years of subsidized travel fares introduced in 2019 by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to increase ridership. However, the hike now effectively reverses those subsidies, putting more pressure on commuters who rely on public transport daily.

Under the new structure:

• Non-AC bus fares range from Rs 10 (up to 5 km) to Rs 60 (up to 50 km)

• AC bus fares range from Rs 12 to Rs 65

• An additional Rs 5 will be charged for every 5 km beyond the 50 km mark

To cushion the blow for families, BEST has reintroduced half-ticket concessions for children aged 5 to 12. However, commuters argue that fare relief should be extended to senior citizens and other vulnerable groups as well.

Despite the fare hike, many commuters continue to raise concerns over the quality of service, bus frequency, and availability, as several older buses have been scrapped and not replaced. Critics argue that any fare increase must be accompanied by visible improvements in public transport infrastructure.

BEST authorities have promised that the revenue generated will be invested in fleet expansion, maintenance, and passenger facilities, but commuters remain skeptical.