Mumbai: BEST bus fares are likely to go up in Mumbai, with the minimum fares proposed to be doubled — from Rs 5 to Rs 10 for non-AC buses, and from Rs 6 to Rs 12 for AC buses for a 5km distance, report Somit Sen & Richa Pinto.
Significantly, the proposed hike for 50km travel is as high as 200% for non-AC buses and 160% for AC buses so your fares could double or even treble as distances increase. For instance, as per the chart, the fare for 50km non-AC buses is Rs 60 (3x compared with the existing Rs 20) while for AC, it is Rs 65 (against Rs 25 now). The proposal got clearance from BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, who is also BEST administrator, last week. It will now come up before the MMRTA for final clearance this week.

The proposal to hike fares on BEST buses, still awaiting nod from Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA), has come in light of BMC suggestion a few months ago that BEST adopt a revenue model which is sustainable on its own, one of which included hiking fares for non-AC and AC buses to curtail losses which have accumulated to more than Rs 2,000 crore, BEST sources said.
In 2019, BEST had cut fares significantly—from Rs 8 minimum fare to Rs 5 for non AC buses — in a bid to attract higher ridership and managed to take it to 33-35 lakh passengers daily, but the undertaking has incurred huge losses and been in a “financial mess”.
A BEST official said the undertaking was suffering huge losses and there were delays in getting adequate funds from BMC. “Minimum fares of autos are up to Rs 26 and taxis Rs 31. So a fare hike for buses to Rs 10 should be acceptable to our commuters,” an official said.
Children can expect 50% concession in tickets though, sources said. The fare hike proposal stated: “Over the years, the cost of various components essential for bus operations, including fuel, has steadily risen. Fuel prices, particularly for diesel and compressed natural gas (CNG), have increased significantly. Additionally, manpower—crucial for both the operation and maintenance of buses—has become more expensive, with establishment costs rising sharply.”
Further, as per the proposal, there are plans in the pipeline to improve efficiency to BEST his services. “Bus services will be extended to areas currently without connectivity, supplemented around Metro stations, and optimised to improve bus speeds and reduce operational times,” stated the proposal.
Speaking against the fare hike, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray posted on X: “The BJP govt’s plan to double the fares is nothing but just another way to choke Mumbai further and squeeze more money from the pockets of Mumbaikars…” SP MLA Rais Shaikh said, “The common man will be hit by the hike.”
“Instead of hiking fares, BEST should focus on getting more buses and reduce long wait,” said Shekhar Abhishek, a commuter from Andheri. Another commuter, Shreya Kulkarni, said she was willing to pay more, provided BEST gave good service.