Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport has its beginning in 1873 when Bombay Tramway Company Limited was established. B.E.S.T. in Mumbai is responsible for power distribution and bus transportation for the metropolitan city of Mumbai. Mumbai B.E.S.T. supplies power to consumers at 415/240 volt. It also runs 3380 buses in 335 routes which carry nearly 450,000 passengers daily. BEST also supplies electrical power to more than 800,000 consumers.
In 1905, Bombay Tramway Company was bought by Bombay Electric Supply and Tramways Company Limited. Subsequently in 1907 the first electrically operated tram car was put to service. Bus services was introduced for the first time in 1926. In 1947, the Brihan Mumbai Nagarmahapalika bought Bombay Electric Supply and Tramways Company Limited, and undertook the responsibility of power distribution, and Bombay road transportation.
City roads – Mumbai Bus
B.E.S.T. had taken over the Bombay Electric Supply and Tramways Company Limited in 1947 around which time 242 buses used to ply in 23 routes. Currently the BEST fleet comprises nearly 3400 buses catering to nearly five hundred thousand passengers traveling in 335 routes.
In addition to normal services, Mumbai BEST offers additional services that include:
- Extra buses are operated on special occasions or religious festivals
- Deployment of extra buses to clear stranded passengers due to heavy rains, train derailment, or mishappenings.
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- Operate additional buses on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays to carry additional passengers from various picnic spots and places of social gatherings.
After its golden jubilee in 1997, BEST has made significant changes to its bus fleet. It has introduced vestibule coaches which can carry 110 sitting passengers. Also, buses running on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) have been introduced. These pollution free vehicles help to protect the city's environment.
Power to the people – BEST Electricity Supply
BEST Mumbai set up its power generation station of 4300 kilowatt in 1905. After 1925 it shifted to power distribution to individual consumers. The Maharashtra State Electricity Board, and Tata Power Companies supply power to BEST at 110/33/22 kilovolt through their sub-stations in Backbay, Carnac, Dharavi, Mahalaxmi, Parel. BEST transmission stations supply power to their substations at 33/11 kilovolt or 22/11/6.6 kilovolt.
The secondary distribution system supplies power to consumers at 415/240 volt. During India's independence BEST had a consumer base of 108,241 individuals served through 247 sub-stations. Currently, BEST supplies power to 820,000 consumers through 1773 distribution sub-stations. It also provides electricity to nearly 34,800 street lights.
Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport is an Undertaking of the Maharashtra Government located in Electric House, BEST Marg, Colaba, Mumbai – 400 001
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