Number of passengers who chose the transport in 2008-09 were just a little more than those in 1980-81; Mumbaikars seem to prefer the train or private vehicles to commute ………..ALKA SHUKLA
The BEST is popularly called Mumbais second life line. But is it really? Statistics recently released by MMRDA on Mumbais transport services reveal a different story.
According to the report, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply Transport (BEST) buses saw 42.55 lakh one-way passenger trips originating daily in 2007-08. This surprisingly is marginally lower than 42.95 lakh one-way passenger trips in 1981. This means only 155.3 crore passengers took a bus in the whole of 2007-08, as opposed to 156.77 crore in 1980-81. Passenger numbers in 2008-09 were a little more at 159.86 crore.
This is when the population of the city within BMC limits increased from around 82.4 lakh three decades ago to around 1.2 crore as per the 2001 census and is projected to have crossed 1.5 crore in this decade. Interestingly, BESTs fleet has also almost doubled from 2,049 buses at the end of 1981 to 4,037 by 2009 end.
But a sizeable number of Mumbaikars seem to have clearly preferred trains to travel, or using their own vehicles for shorter distances. The number of those who commute by local train everyday has shot up over 90 per cent from 38.69 lakh in 1980-81 to 67.9 lakh in 2007-08.
Borivali resident Brijesh Gandhi said, I have been working at Churchgate for the past 15 years. To travel by road would mean wasting two-three hours in traffic. Entering the train is undoubtedly a challenge, but at least you reach on time.
In what stands as testimony to traffic woes cited by most commuters as a reason for their choice of trains, the number of private cars on the citys roads have also increased to 5.30 lakh in 2009 from 1.51 lakh in the last 29 years. The total number of motor vehicles registered till 2009 was a whopping 17.15 lakh.
Transport experts feel the only way to solve the congestion issue is by introducing Bus Rapid Transport System. Says Sudhir Badami, an expert on BRTS, If you can provide for dedicated bus lanes with a bus frequency of 30 seconds, the scenario will change. Currently an ordinary bus has a capacity of about 50 sitting passengers. With two buses plying every minute, the number of passengers can increase to a good 6,000 per hour. If vestibule buses are also introduced in a big way, the capacity will double.
When contacted, Uttam Khobragade, general manager of BEST said, I dont want to comment on any comparative figures from 1981. All I can say is the number of passengers has increased significantly in the last one and a half years. I have brought in more buses, improved the quality of buses, introduced air-conditioned buses, and the results are showing.
* Only 155.3 crore passengers took a bus in the whole of 2007-08