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Following a recent string of bus fires, Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply And Transport undertaking (BEST) has taken 400 leased Tata CNG buses off the roads.
On Wednesday evening, a non-AC single-decker bus on route 415 operated by Mateshwari Ltd caught fire after reaching its destination at Andheri station.
Fortunately, no one was injured, but the entire crowd had to evacuate the bus.
This was the third such incident in one month, and the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply And Transport (BEST) undertaking decided to take 400 Tata CNG buses off the roads till necessary corrective measures were taken.
Reasons Behind the Decision
After the recent incidents of fire in Tata CNG buses operated by Mateshwari Ltd, BEST decided to take all these 400 buses off the road until the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and operator take necessary corrective measures.
According to BEST officials, this decision was necessary to ensure complete public safety, even though it will cause public inconvenience with fewer services and changes in some bus schedules.
Safety Concerns
The recent incidents of bus fires in Mumbai have raised serious concerns over the safety of passengers, prompting BEST officials to take action.
The operator has decided to take all 400 buses off the road until necessary corrective measures are taken by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and operator to prevent future incidents from occurring.
BEST’s Statement
BEST general manager Lokesh Chandra released a statement saying that they could not compromise public safety, and it was essential to take all these buses off the road till the OEM and operator took the necessary corrective measures.
The undertaking is aware that this decision might cause inconvenience to commuters, and there may be some changes in the schedules due to this.
Commuters are requested to keep this in mind while planning their journeys for the next few days.
Impact on Commuters
Although the decision to take 400 buses off the road was taken to ensure public safety, it will cause inconvenience to commuters.
According to BEST officials, commuters might face changes in bus schedules, and there might be fewer services until the OEM and operator come up with necessary corrective measures.
Commuters are advised to keep updated about these changes and plan their journeys accordingly.
Future Precautions
It remains to be seen what corrective measures the operator and manufacturer will take to address the issue.
The safety of passengers will be a top priority for BEST, and they will work to ensure that all necessary precautions are taken to prevent such incidents from occurring again in the future.
Taking 400 leased buses off the road might seem like a drastic decision, but it was necessary to ensure public safety.
The incidents of fire in Tata CNG buses operated by Mateshwari Ltd had raised concerns, and BEST had to take immediate action.
The undertaking’s decision might cause inconvenience to commuters, but their safety is of utmost importance.
The OEM and operator must take the necessary corrective measures to ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future, and the buses can return to the road as soon as possible.