Mumbai: A harrowing experience on one of Mumbai’s most overcrowded BEST buses has reignited concerns over mismanagement in fleet allocation and the daily struggle faced by thousands of office-goers relying on public transport.
Passenger’s Social Media Post Sparks Debate
Rupak Dhakate, an HR professional and frequent commuter, took to the social media platform 'X' (formerly known as Twitter) on Wednesday morning to share a detailed account of the chaos he witnessed aboard bus route number 456, which operates in the western suburbs.
According to Dhakate, the bus was already packed to capacity by the time it reached Mhada Colony, with all seats occupied just one stop prior to his boarding point. “There was no place for an ant to get in,” he wrote.
Altercation Erupts Over Overcrowding
Despite the overcrowding, a male passenger forcefully boarded the bus from the front door at Malvani Depot. When the driver asked him to disembark, the man refused. Tensions flared, and what followed was a startling escalation.
“The driver, visibly agitated, stopped the bus in the middle of the road, turned off the engine, and left his seat to confront the man. A physical altercation broke out, attracting a crowd on the road,” Dhakate reported.
While passengers hurled abuses at the man for causing further delay during critical office hours, he remained defiant. Eventually, with assistance from a passing police officer and the conductor, the man was removed from the bus.
Commuters Blame Mismanaged Fleet Allocation
Dhakate pointed out the real issue: mismanagement in fleet deployment by BEST authorities. “Neither the passenger nor the driver or conductor is to blame here,” he emphasized. “Everyone was simply trying to do their part — reach work or perform their duty.”
"While remaining neutral, it's important to highlight that during morning office hours, commuters consistently face the challenge of boarding overcrowded buses in order to reach their workplaces on time. In such circumstances, it's unfair to place the blame on the passengers. Similarly, both the driver and conductor were simply carrying out their duties on the designated route and cannot be held responsible," Dhakate further stated.
The conductor, according to Dhakate, even urged passengers to file complaints with BEST’s planning department, demanding full-size buses for the Malvani route, which sees consistently high passenger loads.
Mismatch in Bus Sizes Across Routes
Dhakate further criticised the current bus deployment strategy, citing that several low-demand routes — such as 153 (Byculla to Nair Hospital), 181 (Antop Hill to Marol), 214 (Bandra West to Mount Mary – Municipal Garden), 316 (Bandra Terminus to Bandra Colony Bus Station), 317 (Bandra Terminus to Tata Colony, Bandra), 618 (Santacruz East to Vakola), and 627 (Andheri Station to Mora Gaon) — are being served by 12- meter full-size buses.
Call for Ground-Level Assessment by Officials
Meanwhile, several high-demand routes, such as those start from Malvani, Dindoshi, Oshiwara, and Malad, continue to be served by smaller midi buses. The mismatch, he argued, leads to daily commuter chaos and unsafe travel conditions.
“BEST officers must step out of their cabins and travel like ordinary commuters — especially on feeder routes from western depots — to truly understand the hardships faced by the average Mumbaikar,” Dhakate asserted.
While the BEST administration regularly undertakes route rationalization and recently rationalized nearly three dozen routes, this incident highlights a persistent issue: the need for data-driven, demand-sensitive public transport planning.
Also Watch:
Persistent Demand for Data-Driven Planning
"This is just the story of one bus — if you look closer, you’ll find dozens of such stories unfolding every single day. As Mumbai continues to expand and its reliance on public transportation deepens, these on-ground realities can no longer be overlooked. The city’s workforce depends on travel that is reliable, safe, and dignified — a standard that remains out of reach for many. Authorities concerned need to take these issues seriously and act accordingly,” said Goregaon resident Sudesh Sharma ( 42) , a regular commuter on the BEST bus services.
