Mumbai: Thane-BKC route gets premium AC e-buses; book via Chalo app, check route & timings

Beginning Dec 12 (Monday), the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking will start its premium point-to-point bus service from Thane to Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC).

Also known as ‘BEST Chalo Bus’ and distinguishable by its deep blue colour, the fleet will comprise four air-conditioned (AC), zero-emission electric buses )e-buses) that promise quick, comfortable journeys. With this, Mumbai will become the first city in India to have all-electric premium city bus service.

The Thane-BKC buses will run Monday through Saturday. In the first phase, the service has been started as an express route (for office-goers from Thane to BKC in the morning and back in the evening) and an all-day route between Bandra station and BKC during day time for other users. While the all-day route will cost Rs50 per person, the express route will cost Rs250 each. There is also a provision for passengers to avail travel subscriptions designed to save up to 50% on monthly travel.

Seats on these buses can be booked via Chalo App. The bus will stop only if a passenger is to be picked up based on a reservation, guaranteeing faster travel with fewer stops. The buses do not permit standing travel. 

Moreover, the BEST also plans to add 200 more e-buses on busy routes across the city in the coming months. “We are confident that the premium bus service will help thousands of Mumbaikars make a clean shift from their own vehicles and taxis,” said a senior BEST official.

How to reserve a seat?

Simply download BEST’s Chalo App and tap on Chalo Bus. Enter the point of pick up and destination to get 

the route list with the bus schedule. Pick the bus of your choice. You can either pay per ride or pay with a long-term plan.

How to validate your booking?

Once you reserve a seat, you can find it on the home screen of the App, under the ‘Upcoming Reserved 

Trips’ section. Press ‘Tap to Board’ and share your booking ID to validate your reservation.

BEST Premium Bus Offerings 
All-electric air-conditioned service with USB chargers and luxury seats

Seat reservation on the Chalo App 

Live tracking so that you can reach your stop in time to catch the bus 

Flexible rescheduling and cancelling option

Travel subscriptions that help you save up to 50% on your daily travel expenses

How to reserve a seat on the Premium Chalo Bus

Simply download the BEST Chalo App and tap on Chalo Bus. Enter the source and destination to get the route list with the bus schedule. Pick the bus of your choice, according to the time of travel. You can either pay per ride or pay with a long-term plan and reserve your seat.

How to validate your booking on the Premium Chalo Bus 

Once you reserve a seat, you can find it on the home screen of the app, under the ‘Upcoming Reserved Trips’ section. Press ‘Tap to Board’ and share your booking ID to validate your reservation. Now sit back and enjoy the ride!

Fare Structure
BEST has announced a fixed one-way fare for the two routes 

All day Route | Bandra Station - BKC - ₹50

Express Route | Bandra Kurla Complex - Thane - ₹205

Welcome Offer 

To encourage more Mumbaikars to try the Premium Bus service, BEST has also rolled out a Welcome Offer that gives five rides at a fraction of the cost of the one-way fare. The welcome offer can be purchased directly on the BEST Chalo app and is valid for 7 days.

All Day Route -First 5 rides for ₹10 only - ₹2 per trip cost

Express Route - First 5 rides for ₹100 only - ₹20 per trip cost.

Travel subscriptions 

Passengers can also avail of travel subscriptions that have been designed to help them save up to 50% on their monthly travel.