BEST believes that it has a social obligation towards the city
where it has grown. As such it is felt essential to provide concession to
certain sections of society. A few schemes are listed below.
Free Travel Facility:
Presently, the BEST provides free travel facility to the freedom fighters. One
person accompanying the freedom fighter is also permitted to travel free.
Municipal Councilors and Non-Councilor Members of the BEST Committee are also
permitted to travel free on BEST buses. Adhoc Members of Legislative Assembly
and Legislative Council, accompanied by his wife and Female Members accompanied
by any one viz. husband, son, daughter, father, mother, brother or sister are
allowed to travel free on BEST buses. Police personnel are allowed to travel
free on BEST buses against an ad-hoc payment of compensation towards free
travel facility by the Government of Maharashtra. This facility of free travel
however is not available on Luxury and Air-Conditioned services.
Concessional
Fare: Children below 12 years of age are charged concessional fare.
Student studying upto Higher Secondary and upto the age of 22 years are charged
concessional fare. Persons who are 60 % and above, permanently Orthopaedically
handicapped are charged concessional fare. Blind persons are charged a flat
fare of Re.1/- per journey. Concessional fare facility is not available on
Luxury and Air-Conditioned Services.
Public Cash Counters For Distribution of 5 Rupee Coins
For the benefit of general public, coins in the denominations of Rs. 5/-, in
exchange of notes in the denominations of Rs.50/- or Rs.100. are made available
by the Undertaking, at all the Depots. The timings for this are 10.00hrs to
15.00 hrs, on all working days.
Special Counters are also opened at the following places for the same:
. Bandra Bus Station (West)
. Andheri Bus Station (West)
. Agarkar Chowk Bus Station, Andheri (East)
Reservation of Seats:
The BEST has reserved 3 seats for handicapped person , 2 seats for Senior
Citizens and 6 seats for lady passengers in the Single Decker buses. In the
Double Decker buses it has reserved 3 seats each for lady passengers and
handicapped persons and 2 seats for Senior Citizens.
Front Door Entry:
The BEST have permitted physically and mentally handicapped persons, senior
citizens, and expectant mothers to board the bus from the front door except at
starting point.
Passenger Refund Claims: In case the conductor does not
have enough change to return the balance of the passenger, he writes on the
back of the ticket the amount of balance due and authenticates the same. Such a
ticket is treated as a receipt by the BEST. The passenger can claim the balance
amount from Ticket & Cash Department, head office at Wadala after producing
the ticket.
Disaster Management:
In the event of disruption of rail services the BEST operates additional buses
in the area of disruption. Timely actions are taken with the help of our
communication system.
Lost Property: The lost property section of the
Transport Division is in existence prior to the municipalisation of the BEST
Undertaking in the year 1947. Initially the Lost Property section was at Colaba
Depot, Transport House and it was subsequently shifted to 2nd floor of Wadala
Depot, Administrative Building with effect from 01/02/1980. As per Act 132(4)
of Bombay Motor Vehicle Rules 1959 (New rule 122 of Maharshtra Motor Vehicles
Rules 1989), the Lost Properties were required to be handed over to the Police
Department, However the BEST Undertaking has been exempted from the provision
of rule 132(4), and therefore all such articles are deposited in the Lost
Property Section of the Undertaking vide notification issued by Home Department
No MVR.1859/69814-XII date 07.10.1959. The working of the Lost Property Section
is given below:
The articles found by the conductor or any other member of staff in the bus or
in the premises of the Undertaking are handed over to the nearest Bus Terminus
Starter, who sent it to the concerned Depot. These articles are then forwarded
to the Lost Property Section. On receipt of such articles from Depots to Lost
Property Section the same are entered in the register maintained for the
purpose, after bifurcating them as per their category.
Whenever any claimant approaches immediately to the Bus terminus / Bus Chowkey
where the article is deposited, then the articles are issued to the claimant by
the officer on duty after due verification and taking necessary charges as per
the administrative order.
The particulars of charges to be recovered as per Administrative Order Number
304 dated 06/02/2003 from claimant are as under:
|
Registration
Charges
|
For
Outside Parties
|
For
Employees
|
|
For
Cash and Sundry Articles
|
Rs.10/-
|
Rs.5/-
|
|
For
Valuable and Semi Valuable Articles
|
Rs.50/-
|
Rs.25/-
|
Storage charges are only applicable for cash deposited and collected only after
3 days from the date of lost.
|
Storage
Charges
|
For
Outside Parties
|
For
Employees
|
|
For
Cash Deposited
Upto
Rs.100/-
|
Rs.3/-
Per Day, Maximum Rs.10/-
|
50%
concession
|
|
For
Cash Deposited From Rs.101/- to Rs.500/-
|
12/%
of the Cash and
Maximum of Rs.60/-
|
50%
concession
|
|
For
Cash Deposited From Rs.501/- to Rs.2000/-
|
12/%
of the Cash and
Maximum of Rs.200/-
|
50%
concession
|
|
For
Cash Deposited From Rs.2001/- to Rs.5000/-
|
12/%
of the Cash and Maximum of
Rs.300/-
|
50%
concession
|
|
For
Cash Deposited above Rs.5001/-
|
12/%
of the Cash and Maximum of
Rs.750/-
|
50%
concession
|
Whenever any claimant approaches Lost Property Section at Wadala Depot, the
articles are issued only after confirming the Identity and genuineness of
claimant on verification of residential proof such as ration card, passport,
election voting identity card or driving license of the claimant. In case of
higher amount or valuable ornaments, the claimant has to obtain No Objection
Certificate from concerned police authorities. After verification and receiving
necessary charges, articles are handed over to the claimant.
Traffic outdoor staff has been strictly prohibited from handing over any Lost
Property articles directly to the claimant. However, the concerned Traffic
Officers can issue such articles at the Depots after satisfying themselves as
to the authenticity of the claimant and charging necessary charges as
applicable.
The cash or valuable articles (Gold or Silver Ornaments) received in the Lost
Property Section is kept in the section for one month, and there after
deposited at the Undertaking Cash department for safe custody. In case of
foreign currency deposited in the Lost Property section the same is deposited
with our Cash Department at Dadar for further disposal.
Perishable articles such as vegetables, ready food etc is disposed off on the
same day at the depots by auction in the presence of Traffic Officers. The
other perishable articles such as sugar, tea powder, oil, and talcum powder etc
are kept for 10 days in the Lost Property section and then disposed off, by
auction in the presence of officers, and auditor. Medicines are kept for one
month and then disposed off. Unclaimed lost property articles (Semi valuable,
and sundry) are sent to Oshiwara Scrap yard after one month for further
disposal by way of auction.
A letter of appreciation is issued to the member of staff who deposits lost
property articles. If the value of the article deposited is Rs.2000/- or more
then the concerned member of staff is recommended for cash reward /
appreciation letter to be given on BEST Din.