Jan 10, 2003 05:59 PM
2390 Views
(Updated Jan 10, 2003 06:01 PM)
The BEST (https://bestundertaking.com/) buses are an icon of Bombay. And BEST is probably the only company in the world that supplies electricity and transport system for a metropolis as big as Bombay.
In Bombay, Most people take BEST for granted. Consider the facts - from their website - ''At present, there are 3469 buses carrying 45 lakhs passengers daily on 443 routes.''.
Ask any person from Bangalore or Delhi how good their public road transport is - and observe the disdain and the expletives that you hear.
BEST buses are very safe, very few accidents. Girls, Women can travel safe in them. No bottom-pinching or other harrasments.
The fares have gone up a little, but the service is the same as before. In the last 2-3 years, because of those flyovers in Bombay - the service is much much better.
The conductors are usually Marathi speaking folks; but they understand Hindi and English. Try speaking Hindi to a BMTC conductor in Bangalore and you will understand why I like BEST so much.
The buses usually arrive on time, and the word of the conductor is final. When the conductor says no more commuters, say because no standing space in the bus - no commuter dare step in the bus. Also you will notice that ticket inspectors are omnipresent at major bus-stops, monitoring the service of the bus (arrival time) and looking out for free-boarders.
The electricity distribution is great. They provide electricity to the city of Bombay (no suburbs). And as long as I have lived I have found their service to be OK -- not very exciting.
All in all - I think BEST provides a great service to the citizens of Bombay.
