BEST Hikes Bus Fare by Rs 2 for Travel Outside Mumbai

Mumbai, 9th May 2025: Starting today, passengers traveling by BEST buses outside Mumbai will pay ₹2 more as part of a revised fare structure aimed at addressing the financial burden on the public transport body.

The minimum fare for regular BEST buses has been increased from ₹5 to ₹10, and for air-conditioned buses, from ₹6 to ₹12. Additionally, passengers crossing toll plazas outside the Mumbai municipal limits will now be charged an extra ₹2 on both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned routes.

This hike comes as BEST faces a growing toll burden of ₹150 per round trip for its buses operating beyond city limits, including routes to Bhayandar and Vashi. The administration says this toll cost leads to an annual expense of ₹8 crore.

To offset these rising expenses, BEST has updated its ticketing system to reflect the new charges. While BEST’s primary service area is Mumbai, its buses also run within nearby municipal limits such as Mira-Bhayandar and Navi Mumbai. Passengers on these extended routes will now bear the additional fare.

Despite repeated appeals to the state government to waive tolls for BEST buses, no relief has been granted so far.

BEST’s daily ridership, once 45 lakh, has declined steadily, while its accumulated financial deficit has gone to ₹8,000 crore. The shrinking fleet, currently just 2,784 buses—with only 665 owned by BEST—has impacted service quality. Though there are plans to expand the fleet to 5,500 buses to meet rising demand, progress has been slow.

Many commuters have questioned the fare hike, pointing to declining service availability. With limited buses and longer waiting times, it remains to be seen how the fare increase will affect ridership.