As the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) refuse to blink first over the reduction of toll, the chances of BEST buses plying on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link seem to be dim.

According to sources, the MSRDC had decided to charge Rs 5,000 for a BEST bus per day, but the BEST is unwilling to pay the amount. Instead, it has asked the infrastructure agency to reduce the toll by 50 per cent. “We have written to them that unless the toll issue is settled, it would be difficult for us to start the BEST service,” said BEST general manager Uttam Khobragade.

Vimal Mundada, Minister for Public Works, said, “As of now, the BEST buses will not be plying on the sea link.”

S M Gavai, vice-chairman and managing director, MSRDC, said, “It is not a dispute, but whatever the charges that are fixed will have to be paid.”

This could very well put brakes on the BEST’s “Express” service, which it plans to start with the introduction of a fresh fleet of buses under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). According to the plan, which was passed in the BEST committee last month, the city transport unit was scheduled to start the service and its buses were expected to ply on the flyovers and BWSL to help commuters reach their destinations faster. It had even proposed a different fare system for this “Express” bus service.

The BEST was also planning to start an “open-air bus service from Bandra-Kurla-Complex (BKC) to Worli via the sea link so that the commoners can also take a ride on the city’s engineering marvel.

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