New bus services on freeway next week, rejig on Metro route

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) has decided to operate bus services on the Eastern Freeway route from next week, while restructuring the services on the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar following the Metro rail launch.

Two new services are planned on the freeway. One will be an AC (A-8) service between Mulund west check naka and Colaba. The other, is called Corridor-9 (C-9) will operate between Ghatkopar bus station and Regal cinema junction / museum.

There has been a demand for bus services on the freeway to dissuade people from using their private vehicles and thus reduce any possibility of congestion.

On the Mumbai Metro route, a BEST official admitted on Friday that the new rail system had attracted a large number of travellers, consequently reducing the number of commuters on public buses operating on the sector.

So, the undertaking would reduce the frequency of services on certain routes like 340 (Andheri station east to Ghatkopar station west), 249 (Andheri station west to Seven Bungalows), 251 (Andheri station west to Versova), 332 (Andheri station east to Kurla station west) and 328 (Marol to Versova).

However, more services are planned on the route from Andheri station west to Juhu Vile Parle Development Scheme, ESIC Nagar and Lokhandwala, the official said.

Two ring route services would also be started on June 25. Metro Feri-1 will connect Chakala (JB Nagar), Airport Road, Marol Metro station, SEEPZ and MIDC in Andheri east. The other, Metro Feri-2, will run in Andheri west connecting Azad Nagar Metro station, Link Road, Laxmi Industrial Estate, Lokhandwala complex, Adarsh Nagar, Greenpark and Behram Baug.