Shiv Sena's Aaditya Thackeray Opposes Doubling of BEST Fares, Demands Action for Commuters

Mumbai : In a strong reaction to the recent announcement of the doubling of BEST bus fares, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has raised his voice against the decision, calling it a significant burden on the daily commuters of Mumbai. The fare hike has sparked widespread outrage, especially considering the reduced number of buses operating in the city.

Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Thackeray criticised the move, stating, “We oppose the doubling of BEST fares! The number of BEST buses has already been reduced, important routes have been closed, and if fares are increased now, it will have an adverse effect on BEST.” He further expressed his discontent with the BJP government’s plan, calling it “nothing but another way to choke Mumbai further and squeeze more money from the pockets of Mumbaikars.”

Thackeray emphasized that this price hike would be detrimental to the daily commuters, particularly as the availability of buses has already decreased. He pointed out that the decision seems aimed at putting additional pressure on the city's residents, who rely on the BEST buses for their daily transportation needs.

Highlighting the significance of BEST buses in the lives of Mumbaikars, Thackeray said, “32 lakh people use this real lifeline of Mumbai daily, and the current regime, both earlier and now under the BJP’s government, wants to kill the BEST buses to ensure that Mumbaikars can't get to work. This also serves the BJP government’s contractor friends, who run expensive private buses for daily commuting. What a shame!”

In his post, Thackeray called for a more sustainable solution to revive the BEST service. He stated that the way to reinvigorate the service is not by increasing fares, but by increasing the fleet size. “The way to revive BEST is NOT by increasing fares but by increasing the fleet size,” he said, advocating for the introduction of 10,000 electric buses across the city. Thackeray’s vision for modernizing the city's transport infrastructure includes the addition of a mix of mini, medium, long, and double-decker buses to cater to the diverse needs of Mumbai's residents.

Additionally, Thackeray expressed his support for maintaining flat fares for commuters, which would keep the service affordable and accessible. He also voiced his opposition to the “ugly advertisement colors” on buses and urged the authorities to restore the iconic red buses that Mumbai is known for. Furthermore, he called for the transition to hydrogen-run buses as a step toward a greener, more modernized transport system.

Thackeray also highlighted the growing concerns over the deteriorating state of the BEST service, which he claimed has been ignored by the authorities for the past two to three years. “The news of doubling the fares seems like a deliberate attempt to make life harder for ordinary Mumbaikars,” Thackeray said, adding, “We cannot tolerate this degradation of BEST, which has long been known as one of the cheapest urban bus services in the world and serves millions of Mumbaikars.”

He reiterated the need for immediate action, demanding an increase in the number of electric buses, an improvement in the quality of the BEST service, and better facilities for commuters. Thackeray stressed that saving BEST is crucial for ensuring affordable and reliable public transport for Mumbai’s residents.

The ongoing debate over BEST fares is expected to intensify as both the opposition and commuters voice their concerns. With the fate of the iconic bus service hanging in the balance, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader’s call for a more sustainable and efficient solution will likely continue to shape the conversation in the coming days.