In May 2025, BEST doubled the minimum fare for regular buses from Rs 5 to Rs 10 and for AC buses from Rs 6 to Rs 12.
After years of mounting losses in its transport operations, the city’s bus service has registered a substantial jump of Rs 497 crore in earnings and a significant reduction of 31% in losses in 2025-26, largely driven by last year’s fare hike and improved deployment of buses on high-demand routes. In May 2025, BEST doubled the minimum fare for regular buses from Rs 5 to Rs 10 and for AC buses from Rs 6 to Rs 12. Mumbai: The cash-strapped BEST undertaking appears to have hit a rare milestone.
BEST’s fleet of AC electric double-decker buses, with around 50 buses operating in south Mumbai and Bandra-Kurla Complex, also contributed significantly as they regularly ran close to full capacity. Income from season passes rose by around Rs 1 crore, while earnings from hiring out buses for private use brought in Rs 2.7 crore. Advertisement revenue from buses across the city increased by Rs 6.7 crore over the past year. A committee report revealed that while the revised BMC grant for 2025-26 was Rs 808 crore, actual expenditure climbed to Rs 1,158 crore, resulting in an excess expenditure of Rs 350 crore. The additional burden included Rs 173 crore towards establishment costs and wages, Rs 41 crore on administration, Rs 106 crore on repair and maintenance, Rs 9 crore in interest payments and Rs 19 crore under other heads. BEST Budget 2025-26 Division ……. Loss/Profit Electric ……..Rs 4,552 cr……Rs 4,109 cr………….Rs 443 crore profit Transport ……Rs 2,137 cr…..Rs 3,320 cr…………Rs 1,183 crore loss Total …………..Rs 6,689 cr…..Rs 7,429 cr…………Rs 740 crore loss 2024-25 Division ……. Loss/Profit Electric ……..Rs 4,715 cr……Rs 4,353 cr………….Rs 362 crore profit Transport ……Rs 1,640 cr…..Rs 3,363 cr…………Rs 1,723 crore loss Total …………..Rs 6,355 cr…..Rs 7,716 cr…………Rs 1,361 crore loss You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Mumbai | Silver Rate in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai | Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Petrol Price in Mumbai | Diesel Price in Mumbai | CNG Price in Mumbai | LPG Price in Mumbai Stay updated with the latest Mumbai news.
AC services have emerged as a major revenue generator. Revenue growth was visible across several streams. However, challenges remain. For Mumbai’s lifeline bus service, the latest figures suggest that while profitability remains elusive, the road to financial recovery may finally have begun. Earnings…….Expenditure …… Download the TOI App.
Which is expected to be cleared next week before being sent to BMC, total earnings for 2025-26, comprising both power and transport wings, stood at Rs 6,689 crore against the expenditure of Rs 7,429 crore, resulting in a loss of Rs 740 crore, according to the BEST budget. This is significantly lower than the Rs 1,362 crore loss recorded in 2024-25. Earnings in the bus operations segment jumped from Rs 1,640 crore in 2024-25 to Rs 2,137 crore in 2025-26, while losses declined from Rs 1,723 crore to Rs 1,183 crore, a reduction of nearly 31%, one of the sharpest improvements witnessed in recent years. Statistics presented at Wednesday’s BEST committee meeting showed ticket earnings from these buses increased by around Rs 125 crore during the year. Nearly 2,600 wet-lease buses, many deployed on busy corridors and during peak-hour periods, witnessed strong passenger demand.
The picture is encouraging when only the transport wing is considered. Officials attributed the turnaround largely to higher ticket revenues from the growing fleet of wet-lease buses.