BEST to Run 136 Extra Buses on August 28 for Raksha Bandhan Across Thane and Mumbai
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has announced that it will operate 136 additional buses across Mumbai and its suburbs, including Thane, on Friday, August 28. The special arrangement has been planned to accommodate the anticipated surge in passenger traffic on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
The extra bus services are scheduled to begin operating from 10.30 am and will continue throughout the day. Transport authorities noted that the overall deployment will be dynamically adjusted based on passenger demand, with further extra buses brought into service at locations where heavy passenger crowds are recorded.
The special operations will originate from multiple bus depots to connect primary destinations across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Key routes covered by the network include Majas–Thane, Sion–Mulund, Goregaon–Mulund, Mulund–Mira Road, Colaba–Worli, Dadar–Parel, Mumbai Central–Chembur, Kurla–Vashi, Santacruz–Nerul, Andheri–Borivali, Ghatkopar–Borivali, Vikhroli–Bandra, and Malvani–Santacruz.
In addition to the Majas–Thane route, the expanded services will cater to commuters travelling to and from localities including Thane, Airoli, Powai, Juhu, CBD Belapur, Kalamboli, Nerul, Kharghar, Mira Road, and Bhayander.
A total of 26 depots have been designated to run the additional festival services. Among these facilities, the Gorai depot will dispatch 10 extra buses. Eight additional buses each will be operated from the Majas, Mulund, Ghatkopar, Kurla, Wadala, Worli, Santacruz, and Oshiwara depots to support passenger movement across the suburban networks.
To ensure smooth operations and assist commuters at major transit points, BEST will deploy bus inspectors, transport officials, and security officers at select busy bus stops. These personnel will monitor passenger flow, manage crowds, and coordinate operations on the ground.
BEST officials stated that the initiative is intended to facilitate seamless transit on Raksha Bandhan, as large numbers of residents travel across the region to visit family members. The transport undertaking has appealed to the public to make full use of the extra services and cooperate with on-duty personnel.
