P.S - This review is to educate the reader on the history of BEST, and may not serve the purpose of informing them about the present service.
The city of Mumbai has a charm of its own. I am sure that every true Mumbaite will agree with me. Over the past few decades, Mumbai has changed considerably. But the one thing that has always remained unchanged is the spirit of Mumbai. The spirit that refuses to give up hope in the face of adversity. The spirit that believes in speed. The spirit that never has a moment to waste, and yet, brings together people from all walks of life every time a calamity strikes the country....may it be the earthquake in Gujarat, or the war of Kargil. The spirit which stays alive even in religious riots, emerging in some corner with a Hindu defending his Muslim neighbour, and a Muslim protecting a Ganesh idol from the wrath of his own religion. Truly, no other city in the world can match this charm of Mumbai.
Of course, there are other things that have remained a part of the city, braving all the changes. The local trains, for example! The vendors at Fort are another example! And yes...of course those red boxes moving around in the city, found in almost all the nooks and corners...
Mumbai's very own BEST.
THE REVIEW
The BEST deals with both, the electric supply and the transportation of within Bombay. Let us see how this company started.
In the early nineteenth century, Mumbai was a city with narrow roads, used by bullock carts and horse driven carriages. In 1806, the Parel road and the Breach Candy road were widened to sixty-feet. By 1868, roads were built from Elphinstone Circle to Bazargate to Foras Road. Bellasis Road, and the road linking Babula Tank with Elphinstone Bridge, were laid during these years. The road at Apollo Bunder was widened. All in all, the city started to flourish.
The opening of Suez Canal in 1870, came as a boon for this city. It made Bombay, as it was called then, an important port on the world map. And that marked the beginning of serious development of this land.
In 1882, Bombay saw its first electric light at Crawford market. But the Municipal Offices could not maintain the initial maintenance, and Bombay was back to gas-lights in the early twentieth century. However, the Municipal Offices arranged for the electric power from a new company- Bombay Electric Supply & Tramways. This company launched its first powerhouse at Wadi Bunder. In 1911, the Tatas set up an electric plant. The BEST and Tata drew up an agreement and coordinated with each other. They even depended on each other for assistance in case of insufficient power resources.
The year 1911 gave a powerful tool to the common man- The Light Bulb., which was, till then, a luxury item.
Street Lighting was implemented in 1923.
In 1932, the government levied tax on electricity.
Being a London-based company, the BEST found it difficult paying taxes in both, London and Mumbai. As a result, the company shifted its headquarters to Mumbai.
Somewhere in the mid-forties, the BEST company was taken over by the Municipality, as per the agreement they had done, way back in 1905.
On 6th August, 1947, the BEST company was dissolved and the BEST Undertaking came into power. Born just a week before the Indian Independence!
However, the rate at which Mumbai was growing became a major cause for worry as far as the BEST bus service was concerned. People poured in Mumbai from all corners of the city. It became necessary for the BEST to chalk out ways of carrying maximum passengers in one go! This crisis paved the way for the double decker buses and also the Standee Bus System, introduced in 1955. Under this system, 10 standing passengers were allowed in the city bus. By 1958, this system was extended to the double deckers, and by 1967, All Standee Buses were introduced to Bombay.
These buses had very few seats, and a major portion travelled standing. Ideally, such buses were for short routes.
1967 also introduced the Articulated Bus. Some MS-ians may remember these buses in their childhood, which had a separate passenger car attached to the engine. These buses were manufactured by Ashok Leyland.
A few more ideas like Coach Service and Trolley Service were floated for short routes, but did not work. Finally, the BEST gave Mumbai the Mini Bus. Initially this service was applied on the following routes: Strand Cinema to Nagar Chowk (Bori Bunder) or Ballard Estate or Churchgate; Colaba Bus Station to Churchgate; Museum to Mahatma Phule Market (Crawford Market); and Pydhoni to Dhobi Talao. But the demand for minibuses started to come from suburbs.
The vast demand required vast network, and hence the idea of depots came into being.
Thus, the demands from the Bombay citizens made the company find new ways of meeting them, and this was the basis of a fantastic development, the latest in this being the introduction of fully air-conditioned buses in 1998, to beat the Mumbai heat.
BEST TODAY
Inspite of the corruption, I am sure that all Mumbaites will agree with me that the BEST is one of the many things that give Mumbai its identity. Both, the electricity and the bus service of BEST have reached even the remotest corner of Bombay. I remember the rickshaw and taxi strike a few years ago, when BEST had come to the rescue of the common man with style. Truly, however much a common Mumbaite may curse the service, it goes without saying that it is a true blessing for him.
Today, the BEST provides electricity to the city and major suburbs of Bombay. Their bus service is truly the lifeline of this city. Much as we hate some rash drivers of these buses, the fact remains that they are the ones who keep the city's heart beating even in the worst of crisis. A wire mesh protects them during riots and strikes, and these workers are on duty to serve their countrymen.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS
Did you know this?
Bus Route No.166 - plies on roads interconnecting maximum Hospitals.
Bus Route No.161 - This route covers on the way maximum Oil Reservoirs and unpopulated areas in Eastern wings of the city.
Bus Route No. 9- A network of large number of school and colleges is interwoven by this route.
Bus Route No.320, 22 Ltd., 25 Ltd. - These routes have an outstanding feature of connecting two largest water reservoirs of the city.
Bus Route No.1, 65, 66, 202 - Round the clock operating bus routes.
IN CONCLUSION
I guess it has already been a very long review....so I will just say- Comments are welcome!
Information gathered from: https://bestundertaking.com
