Ticketless Travel Costs BEST Rs. 132cr Revenue Loss!
Best buses are the cheapest mode of transportation in Mumbai. The BEST administration recently even reduced the fare to a minimum of Rs 5/-. But, it is tragic despite BEST showing such empathy, Mumbaikars are duping it by travelling ticketless. According to recent reports, the BEST administration has suffered a heavy loss of Rs 132cr revenue due to ticketless travel!!
Readers may be aware that the BEST is under huge debt and is undergoing severe survival issues. But, since Mumbaikars cannot commute without BEST buses the state government has continued its services despite the loss. On top of it if Mumbai commuters dupe BEST by travelling without a ticket then it will impact Mumbaikars the worst as BEST would be forced to shut down its services and this will make travelling surely not the ‘Best’ (pun intended) idea!!!
While the BEST administration has allegedly accused Mumbaikars of cheating BEST by travelling ticketless, sources blame BEST for its failure to check the malfunctioning of the newly introduced Electronic Ticket Issuing Machine (ETIM) system. Commuters claim that they would willingly pay for the ticket but due to the malfunctioning of the ETIM, the conductors are helpless to issue tickets. Hence, many passengers get the opportunity of travelling free!
Rajesh Pawar, a regular commuter by BEST bus, said, “If the ETIM functions properly and the conductor is well-trained to operate the ETIM, then I am sure ticketless travel can be averted. This will also put the brakes on the revenue loss to BEST.”
Another Mulundkar, Apoorva Rane, told Home Times, “It would be wise if the number of ticket-checkers is increased. These ticket-checkers should also be deployed at bus stops to create fear among the passengers. Besides, the conductors should be penalized if they do not complain immediately about the malfunctioning of the ETIM. This punishment will alert lazy bus conductors to work sincerely which, in turn, would increase BEST’s revenue.”
