MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking received a boost on Monday, as chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that 1,300 electric buses (e-buses) will be added to its fleet soon.
The announcement was made in the first day of the winter session of the state legislature in Nagpur.
Currently, the civic transport body's fleet comprises 2,913 buses, of which 1,900 are on wet-lease contract, while remaining are owned by the Undertaking.
The new additions will be part of the 3,500 e-buses BEST plans to include in its own fleet.
The transport utility has sought a grant of ₹2,800 crore from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in the budget for the financial year ending March 2026 to provide for procuring buses, employee salaries, expansion of power supply network, etc.
Before Fadnavis's announcement, BEST had placed orders for 2,300 buses, which include 2,100 AC single-decker 12-metre-long e-buses and 200 AC double-decker e-buses.
Flak for wet-lease model
The state government's announcement comes at a time when the wet-lease model adopted by BEST has received much flak in view of the recent spate of accidents involving buses driven by drivers from outsourced vendors.
After the accident on December 9 at a busy Kurla thoroughfare that killed eight and injured 41, BEST woke up to the need for stringent Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), one of them being training drivers on automatic transmission vehicles.
Esta historia es de la edición December 17, 2024 de Hindustan Times Navi Mumbai.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición December 17, 2024 de Hindustan Times Navi Mumbai.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
How the challenge of batting in Oz changed
KOOKABURRA RELEASED A REDESIGNED BALL FOR TESTS IN 2021 THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO MAKE THE GAME MORE EXCITING, BUT IT HAS ONLY MADE BATTING MORE DIFFICULT
Grit in the tail frustrates the hosts, India avoid follow-on
Like in 2021, there was defiance in the damp air of Gabba as Deep and Bumrah steer India towards a likely draw on Day 4
Jhulan Goswami stand: Another historic moment at Eden Gardens
KOLKATA: At 6.58pm on a misty winter evening near the Eden Gardens change rooms, Jhulan Goswami took the stage. And said she was speechless.
DEVESH HITS 64 TO LEAD MODERN ENGLISH'S CHASE IN HARRIS FINAL
MUMBAI: Modern English School have put themselves in a good position after scoring 263/8 at stumps on Day 2 of the Harris Shield final against Anjuman I-Islam Allana School, at the Brabourne Stadium.
Prithvi Shaw now axed from Vijay Hazare squad
In a forgettable season, Prithvi Shaw received another jolt when the Mumbai selectors ignored his superb record in List A cricket by dropping him from the squad for the upcoming 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament.
Pidilite, two others vie for Dulux maker
MUMBAI: The race for Akzo Nobel India Ltd has narrowed to Pidilite Industries Ltd, JSW Paints Pvt. Ltd and Indigo Paints Ltd, two people close to the development said, with a deal likely to value the maker of Dulux paints at $2.1-2.5 billion.
Hayley shines, WI level series with big victory
The visiting skipper hit a 47-ball 85* after taking 2 wickets to help the Caribbean women level the 3-match T20 series
Market in oversold zone on FPI selling
Fall risk Apart from cash selling, Flls increased bearish bets on index futures by a whopping 16,060 contracts on Tuesday.
RBI's new leadership to retain anti-crypto stance, officials say
The change of guard at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is unlikely to change the central bank's position on private cryptocurrencies, two officials said.
CHINA EXECUTES OFFICIAL INVOLVED IN BIGGEST CASE OF GRAFT WORTH $421 MILLION
BEIJING: China, on Tuesday, executed Li Jianping, a former official in the north Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, who was convicted in the largest-ever corruption case in the country totaling over $421 million.
