The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking aims to have over 50% electric buses in its fleet by 2025-26. It plans to increase the number of electric buses to 8,000 in the following years, as part of a larger effort to reduce emissions and improve air quality in the city.
In a recent announcement, BEST revealed its goal of achieving a 100% zero-emission electric bus fleet by 2026-27. As part of this, an order has been placed for 2,650 single-decker electric buses, with plans to procure more in the future.
On Thursday, BEST’s general manager, Anil Diggikar, presented the undertaking’s Rs 9439.56 crore budget for 2025-26 to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The budget highlights a deficit of Rs 2,086.33 crore, with the transport wing expected to face a shortfall of Rs 2,131.51 crore, despite profits from its electric supply wing.
BEST currently operates a fleet of 3,166 buses, including hired vehicles and zero-emission e-buses. Plans are in place to purchase 273 large-sized and 237 mid-sized air-conditioned electric buses, along with the scrapping of 520 self-owned buses that will soon reach the end of their service life.
As part of its commitment to improving public transport, BEST has already ordered 2,100 single-decker electric buses, with 205 of them already delivered. Additionally, 1,200 double-decker electric buses are planned, though the timeline for their induction into the fleet has not been disclosed.