BEST Seeks 17 cm Height Cut for Electric Double-Deckers Over SCLR Clearance Issues
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport undertaking has asked vehicle manufacturer Switch Mobility to reduce the height of some upcoming electric double-decker buses by 17 centimetres after operations ran into clearance problems beneath the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road flyover. The restriction has directly affected services along Route 310, which traverses the busy suburban corridor.
The air-conditioned electric double-decker buses measure approximately 457 cm in height. Transport officials observed that the roofs of the vehicles came dangerously close to the underside of the flyover, and in certain instances brushed against the structure while navigating the stretch.
BEST Committee chairperson Trushna Vishwasrao confirmed that the undertaking has formally approached the manufacturer for structural alterations. "We have asked the manufacturer to reduce the height by 17 cms. This will be for a few buses only," Vishwasrao said.
The transport body is now preparing to identify which specific vehicles among the roughly 150 double-decker electric buses yet to be delivered can be modified. Transport authorities will review the technical feasibility and financial costs of altering the vehicle design in consultation with Switch Mobility before determining the final number of modified buses.
The height constraint has curtailed the broader rollout of the double-decker fleet across select Mumbai corridors, despite significant commuter demand. Introduced more than three years ago under BEST's fleet modernisation programme, the electric models were brought in to replace the city's phased-out diesel double-deckers and provide higher passenger volume on congested transit routes.
Alongside addressing route restrictions, BEST is also working to restore double-decker tourist operations. The committee chairperson has proposed introducing five semi-AC electric double-deckers dedicated to sightseeing, private parties, family outings, and group gatherings.
According to transport officials, previous tourist double-decker services accommodated between 2,000 and 4,000 passengers over weekends, yielding nearly Rs 4 lakh in revenue each weekend. Officials noted that resolving clearance bottlenecks remains critical for operating standardised electric buses across Mumbai roads, where varying bridge heights limit vehicle deployment.
