The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sanctioned a significant fare hike for the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus services, effectively doubling the minimum fares after a seven-year freeze.
This development is set to alter the public transport landscape in Mumbai, affecting over 31 lakh riders who rely on BEST buses for their daily commute. As per officials, the minimum fare for non-air-conditioned (non-AC) buses will rise from ₹5 to ₹10, while the minimum fare for air-conditioned (AC) buses will double from ₹6 to ₹12. The decision, taken after detailed discussions with state authorities, reflects a strategic shift in addressing the financial sustainability challenges that BEST has long grappled with. BEST, once heralded as Mumbai’s lifeline for eco-friendly and accessible transportation, has been facing steep operational losses despite receiving over ₹11,000 crore in subsidies from the BMC over the past decade. Municipal officials confirmed that continued budgetary support was no longer viable, prompting the need for a fare revision to preserve and upgrade the ageing bus network.
According to senior transport department experts, the new fare structure will see non-AC bus fares for distances between 0-5 km, 5-10 km, and 10-15 km revised to ₹10, ₹15, and ₹20 respectively. Commuters travelling 15-20 km and 20-25 km will now pay ₹30 and ₹35. For AC bus services, fares are adjusted to ₹12, ₹20, ₹30, ₹35, and ₹40 for similar distance brackets. Weekly pass costs have also seen a sharp escalation, with non-AC bus passes for up to 5 km now priced at ₹140, and ₹210 and ₹420 for 10 km and 20 km ranges respectively. Monthly passes for non-AC buses will now cost ₹800, ₹1,250, and ₹2,600 for the corresponding distance slabs, while AC passes have climbed to ₹1,100, ₹1,700, and ₹3,500.
Officials justified the fare hike, citing the urgent need to modernise BEST’s fleet, enhance passenger services, and transition towards a more sustainable and climate-resilient public transport system. They stressed that with the BMC aiming to create a zero-carbon future for Mumbai, strengthening public transportation through revenue stability is a critical component. However, the move has stirred widespread discontent among the city’s commuters, especially those from low and middle-income backgrounds. Many fear that the increased travel costs will exacerbate the financial strain on households already grappling with the rising cost of living in Mumbai. Civil society organisations advocating for affordable public transport have raised concerns that the fare hike could push more commuters towards private modes of transport, undermining broader efforts to decongest the city and reduce vehicular emissions.
Transport economists and urban mobility experts argue that while financial viability is crucial, public transport fare policies must balance affordability and access. They caution that an abrupt and substantial increase could lead to a decline in ridership, ultimately harming the public transport ecosystem. This fare adjustment marks a reversal from 2019, when the then municipal leadership had slashed bus fares to incentivise public transport usage and reduce the city’s carbon footprint. That fare reduction had been widely credited with revitalising interest in BEST services among Mumbaikars, particularly short-distance commuters.
At present, while the BMC has cleared the fare hike, the final nod from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) is awaited. Sources indicate that preparations are already underway for implementing the new fares once formal approval is secured. City planners emphasise that strengthening Mumbai’s public transport is central to achieving an equitable urban future. Affordable and accessible mass transit options are essential to support low-carbon growth, social inclusion, and gender-neutral mobility in India’s financial capital.
As Mumbai continues to expand and modernise its infrastructure, policymakers face the delicate challenge of ensuring that the cost of progress does not alienate the very commuters who form the city’s heartbeat. Whether the fare hike ultimately stabilises BEST’s finances or triggers deeper shifts in commuting patterns remains a critical space to watch.
