A Samajwadi Party MLA has urged Mumbai civic and BEST authorities to increase the number of buses operating on the Mumbai Coastal Road, saying that running only two services on a publicly funded corridor limits affordable access for ordinary commuters.
The demand was made by Rais Shaikh in a letter to Mumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ashwini Bhide and BEST General Manager Dr Sonia Sethi, according to a report by Loksatta. Shaikh said the coastal road was built to save travel time, but that its public benefit was being restricted by the limited number of BEST buses using the route.
At present, BEST operates two services on the corridor: A 84, running between Dr Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Chowk and Oshiwara Depot, and A 78, connecting NCPA with Byculla. The report said both services were receiving a positive response from passengers and that additional buses were needed.
The Mumbai Coastal Road was constructed to address congestion along the city’s western coastal stretch. The route is restricted to certain vehicles and does not permit pedestrians, heavy vehicles, three-wheelers or two-wheelers. These restrictions make the availability of suitable public transport an important factor for commuters who want to use the corridor without relying on private vehicles or taxis.
Shaikh said the project was being built at a cost of Rs 12,721 crore and argued that the road had been funded through taxpayers’ money. In his letter, he described the limited bus service as a source of inconvenience for citizens and called for more buses to be introduced for their benefit.
The demand also highlights the difference between the time-saving potential of the coastal road and the cost of accessing that benefit. According to the report, BEST fares on the relevant routes range from Rs 12 to Rs 50. Shaikh said many passengers were using taxis to save time despite finding the fares unaffordable, creating an additional financial burden for ordinary commuters.
The issue is centred on whether the city’s large transport infrastructure can be used by passengers who depend on relatively low-cost public services. While the coastal road has been developed as a major road corridor, the current bus operations cited in the report comprise only two routes, leaving the question of service capacity with the municipal corporation and BEST.
Shaikh’s letter calls on the civic administration and BEST management to consider additional services on the route. Any increase in operations would have to be decided by the concerned authorities. The report does not state whether the municipal corporation or BEST has announced a response or a timeline for adding buses.
