The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has received a proposal of building Air-Conditioned (AC) bus stops in the city from a private agency. To start with, the service would only be for commuters waiting for an AC bus.

“The proposal is to erect 18 AC bus stops across the city, but it is still in the preliminary stage,” said BEST chairman Dilip Patel.

The plan was discussed by the BEST committee meeting on Thursday, but no decision was taken. “Since it was added to the agenda on September 8, the committee members could not study it in detail. We have asked for time to check the pros and cons before passing this proposal,” he added.

The bus stop locations have not yet been decided as the BEST is looking at the prominent places where commuters wait for maximum time. “Though the AC bus service is popular, the south-bound commuters would be more during peak hours in the morning and otherwise in the evening. The bus stops should have maximum use,” said Patel.

Sources, however, indicated the bus stops are likely to come up at prominent places that are crowded all the time, like Mantralaya and Bandra-Kurla-Complex.

The size of the AC bus stop would be 20x6 feet, so that it doesn’t get crowded.

The committee members have also suggested having one security guard deployed outside the bus stop to prevent robbery. Besides, there are suggestions of installing CCTV cameras also inside the bus stops. In return, BEST would be giving the agency advertising rights for the bus stops.

... contd.