Mumbai: ₹2 Toll Fee Imposed On BEST Buses Crossing Brihanmumbai Limits Amid Steep Fare Hike; Commuters Irked

Mumbai: Mumbai’s bus commuters are once again grappling with rising transport costs, as the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has reinstated a Rs 2 toll surcharge on certain routes that cross city limits. This move, which comes on the heels of a sharp fare hike, has sparked widespread frustration among the city’s daily commuters, particularly daily wage workers and office employees who depend on buses as an economical means of transport.

Until recently, BEST was seen as a reliable and affordable option for getting around Mumbai. However, the recent fare revisions have doubled ticket prices for both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses. With this, a toll fee has quietly been reintroduced into fares on routes that pass through toll nakas, such as the Dahisar check post and the Mulund toll naka.

Buses Travelling Through Toll Nakas To Attract Fee

Passengers travelling on intercity routes like C-71 (Mahim Bus Station to Mira Road Station East) and C-42 (Rani Lakshmi Bai Chowk in Sion to Dadlani Park in Thane) are now being charged the Rs 2 toll surcharge as part of their fare. This has caused confusion among commuters, many of whom remember that toll charges had earlier been discontinued.

Pranay Das, a commuter who takes the C-42 bus route to travel from Thane, passing through Mulund Toll Naka to Sion near his workplace, expressed frustration over the toll free charge. "Already the BEST has almost doubled the fare suddenly, and now they are even charging toll fee, which is another burden on us," said Das.

Another commuter, Avakash Vishwakarma, who takes the 512 bus route from Mulund to Vashi through the Airoli toll naka said, "Toll fees are revoked for private cars, then why do they need to impose a toll fee on buses for which we already pay an increased fare now."

Details On Revised Fare Structure

In addition to the toll, the updated fare structure has increased base ticket prices. According to BEST officials, the minimum fare for non-AC buses has gone up from Rs 5 to Rs 10, and the maximum from Rs 20 to Rs 60. For AC buses, fares have also doubled, with the minimum rising from Rs 6 to Rs 12, and the maximum now Rs 65, up from Rs 25.

The fare hike has made daily travel more expensive for millions. BEST currently operates around 2,700 buses across Mumbai and its surrounding suburbs, transporting nearly 31 lakh passengers every day. The combination of fare increases and toll charges has led many commuters to question the affordability of public transport, which has long been considered a lifeline for the city’s working population.