The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking has announced the August 8 launch of a new Hop On Hop Off (Ho-Ho) AC bus service in an effort to boost tourism in the city.
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus will serve as the starting point for the Ho-Ho AC bus service (CSMT). It will depart from the CSMT every day between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., with a ticket costing Rs 150 per person.
Cover more tourist attractions in South Mumbai
BEST already operates a Ho-Ho bus service from the Gateway of India to Juhu Chowpatty, passing through several tourist attractions in the city. With the new service, it hopes to cover more tourist attractions in South Mumbai as it celebrates its 75th anniversary on Sunday. The buses will pass through the Museum Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Babulnath, Pedder Road, Haji Ali, Race Course, Dhobi Ghat, and Rani Baug.
To make the experience hassle-free for tourists visiting Mumbai, BEST will also allow them to board other buses operated by it on the route. Explaining the feature, BEST general manager Lokesh Chandra said, “Passengers can buy tickets for Rs 150 and travel for an entire day in similar tourist buses, after alighting at any designated stops. They can also board other buses operating on the route.” The official added that
“It’ll make ‘Mumbai Darshan’ more fun and convenient for tourists.”
Aaditya Thackeray, a Maharashtra minister, launched the Ho-Ho service in Mumbai last December. However, ridership on the service had been low. It had 11 stops at first and covered 19 total destinations daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Buses run every 30 minutes from Juhu Chowpatty to CSMT on the first service. The route’s Ho-Ho bus ticket price was set at Rs 250. Special graphic stickers adorn the mid-sized AC buses.
