BEST Approves Procurement of 1500 Electric Midi Buses for Mumbai

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Committee on Tuesday approved the procurement of 1,500 electric midi buses for Mumbai under the PM E-Drive Scheme. The initiative is aimed at expanding Mumbai's public transport fleet with specialized vehicles designed to navigate the city's narrow and inner-city roads.

The newly approved 9-metre electric midi buses are expected to begin running next year. This procurement represents a significant step in the expansion of Mumbai's municipal transit system, targeting routes that require smaller, more maneuverable buses.

The approval by the BEST Committee comes at a critical juncture for Mumbai's public transport network. The transport body is currently facing a major setback due to an ongoing supply crisis. Electric bus manufacturer Olectra Greentech decided to discontinue its supply of most buses under a separate, pre-existing 2,400-bus contract.

In halting the supply for the 2,400-bus contract, Olectra Greentech cited financial and operational issues. This disruption has cast a shadow over the earlier agreement, making the newly approved procurement of 1,500 electric midi buses under the PM E-Drive Scheme a key development for the city's transit fleet.

With the approval process now cleared by the BEST Committee on Tuesday, the city expects the first of these 1,500 electric midi buses to enter service next year. The transition to these electric vehicles is part of the broader effort to integrate cleaner transit options under the PM E-Drive Scheme.