The only bus, taking the longest route from Bandra east to west in Mumbai, is plagued by poor frequency and delays, but BEST is not in the mood to offer any alternatives
Passengers end up waiting for hours for the bus. Pic/Datta Kumbhar
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More than a 1,000 passengers travel using BEST buses from Bandra east to west on a daily basis, yet, there is barely any connectivity or availability of buses for them. Bus 215, the only BEST bus, that runs taking the longest route from Bandra Reclamation in the west to Tata Colony in the east, has poor frequency and is plagued by delays.
The first 215 bus leaves Bandra Reclamation at 6.30 am while the last one leaves Bandra East at around 8.30 pm. It takes 12 rounds a day. Graphic/Uday Mohite
Blame it on the traffic
When this reporter reached the Bandra Reclamation bus depot to board bus 215, it was already stationed there. Its departure time was 2.28 pm but it was 2.35 pm and it had still not left. When the depot master was asked, he said, “Mostly, the route of this bus is full of heavy traffic, it takes around 2 hours for one round. Right now, the bus has already arrived and we are just waiting for a conductor and a driver.” The bus finally started at 2.45 pm.
Only seven buses run from the Bandra Reclamation depot, of which only 215 goes all the way to Tata Colony. Even so, the bus is always late and has a poor frequency. The first one leaves the Bandra Reclamation at 6.30 am while the last one leaves Bandra east at around 8.30 pm. It makes just 12 rounds a day.
Sick of BEST’s excuses
Beena Goradi, who uses this bus daily said, “I have been travelling on this bus for the last two years to reach my Linking Road office from the Kalanagar bus depot and almost everyday, this bus comes late. Sometimes, I am forced to take an autorickshaw and pay around R60-70 to reach my workplace.”
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Cromwell D’souza, a housewife from Bandra east faces a similar issue when she uses the bus to drop her daughter to her school at Hill Road. “Most of the times, I have to take an autorickshaw because of their late schedule. I am sick of complaining to these BEST officials. Traffic is the only excuse they give every single time. ”
No alternatives, no solution
Other commuters of this bus are also aggrieved at being made to stand for hours for this bus while BEST refuses to come up with any alternatives or even a solution. The 215 is full of passengers from the Hill Road Garden stop itself and by the time it reaches Kalanagar, there’s barely any space to stand. However, with the poor frequency and a lack of bus options, passengers have to suffer through this everyday.
BEST stays mum
When mid-day questioned BEST, it refused to even address them. “Right now, I cannot give any statement on this issue but we have provided a helpline number on which anyone can call,” said Hanmantha Gopane, PRO of BEST Undertaking.
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