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last mo.

BEST Approves 1,500 AC Electric Midi Buses Under PM E-Drive Scheme

The purchase is meant to speed last-mile links to metro hubs, cut urban transport emissions, and boost service on narrow, high-density Mumbai roads.

BEST currently operates 400 bus routes with 2,800 buses. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT PHOTO)
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BEST owns bus depots spanning across 190 acres. Of these, 22 depots covering 132 acres will undergo redevelopment as part of the proposed overhaul. (Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo)

Overview

  • The BEST Committee approved the procurement on Tuesday for 1,500 nine-metre air-conditioned electric midi buses to be delivered under the central PM E-Drive Scheme.
  • BEST split the order between two suppliers with GreenCell Mobility contracted for 1,050 EKA buses and Sai Green contracted for 450 Switch EiV9 buses, reflecting a 70/30 allocation.
  • The fleet will be inducted in four phases of 225, 375, 450 and 450 buses across 2026 and 2027 and will be deployed from BEST depots to run feeder and last-mile services.
  • Each bus will feature a 400 mm ultra-low entry floor for wheelchair access, Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries, full air suspension, fast DC charging, 360-degree CCTV, an Intelligent Transport Management System, and a fire detection and suppression system.
  • Officials say the programme supports the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs’ 10,000-city-bus target for 2027 and is expected to revive up to about 100–125 routes, improve metro connectivity, and reduce emissions on narrow routes.