BEST is likely to add a new feature to the 'Chalo' app in order to increase the safety of female passengers

The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) department is working on a critical feature for the 'Chalo' app that would boost the safety of female riders. The BEST officials are considering adding an 'emergency button,' which, when hit by a passenger, sends a message to the Control Room and maybe the Police. Last week, the BEST added features that let senior folks and schoolchildren purchase tickets.

 

The BEST is working on incorporating this feature into its Chalo App, which will be beneficial to female riders on their buses. "We're planning on including this safety element, such as a red button, into the Chalo App for female travellers." It could be linked to BEST Control Rooms and perhaps the police. "We're still working on it," BEST Committee Chairman Ashish Chemburkar said.

This will benefit thousands of women passengers who commute on BEST buses every day (about 12-15 percent of the total 27-28 lakh passengers on BEST are women).

 

The Undertaking also operates buses without conductors, thus having this facility is essential. Short-distance routes and those connecting local residential communities to train stations are the most common examples. Almost 40% of BEST's 3400 bus fleet is on wet lease, meaning private operators operate them and conductors wait outside at bus stops or inside the buses to sell tickets before alighting. BEST staff agree that this innovation will undoubtedly increase the confidence of female passengers on their buses.

 

Meanwhile, beginning February 14, the BEST began distributing smartcards with discounts to students, seniors, and physically challenged people. The passes are available to students from both BMC and private schools. Furthermore, senior persons and physically challenged people can obtain an online bus pass with concessions using the 'Chalo' App on their mobile phones, eliminating the need for them to carry a physical card.

 

Furthermore, despite purchasing tickets using the Chalo App, Undertaking has stopped issuing real tickets to customers. Nearly 5.25 lakh users had downloaded the Chalo Mobile App as of February 9; 1.5 lakh of these had purchased e-tickets. The App not only assists passengers in purchasing tickets, but also allows them to follow the bus, determine the projected arrival time, determine whether the bus is crowded, and make payments using a variety of e-wallet platforms.

 

 

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