Former BEST official urges multi agency push to fix Bandra Kurla Complex connectivity
A former Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) official has called for a coordinated, multi-agency effort to address last-mile connectivity issues in Mumbai, particularly within busy commercial hubs like the Bandra-Kurla Complex in Bandra. Speaking on Wednesday, Shrinivas Rao Arragunta, the former Deputy General Manager of Transportation Engineering for BEST, emphasized that the transport undertaking cannot solve the city's transit gaps on its own.
According to Arragunta, the final leg of a commuter’s daily journey is the deciding factor in whether they choose public transport or private vehicles. He stated that improving this critical connection is essential to establishing BEST buses as a structured transport backbone for short-distance travel throughout the metropolitan area.
Arragunta explained that resolving the last-mile connectivity challenge requires active collaboration and coordinated action from various transport and civic agencies. Without this multi-agency push, efforts to encourage public transit use may fall short, as commuters often base their transport decisions on the ease of completing the final portion of their commute.
The former official highlighted business hubs such as the Bandra-Kurla Complex as key areas where BEST buses could play a pivotal role. By serving as a structured backbone for short-distance travel, improved bus services could streamline transit for thousands of daily commuters in these dense commercial districts.
However, Arragunta maintained that BEST requires the support of other civic and transport authorities to build a seamless network. The quality and availability of these final-leg services remain central to reducing private vehicle reliance and improving the overall efficiency of Mumbai's public transportation system.
The comments, which were reported on July 1, 2026, come amid ongoing discussions regarding urban transit and traffic management in Mumbai's major business districts. Arragunta's former role as the Deputy General Manager of Transportation Engineering at BEST provided him with direct insight into the logistical hurdles of managing short-distance travel. He reiterated that a single agency cannot manage the complex demands of the city's commuter network without structured support from other municipal bodies.
