Mumbai’s conventional transport loses sheen?

In Mumbai, statistics collated by the transport department and various unions reported a near 30 per cent drop in commuters of conventional transport like BEST buses and the ‘black-yellow’ (kaali-peeli) taxis. The study, conducted over a five year period (2011 to 2016), has revealed that the passengers have switched to aggregators like Ola, Uber and other modes of transport like auto rickshaws, sharing rickshaws and privately owned two-wheelers known to provide a better experience at attractive price points. Over 16 lakh commuters are said to have migrated. Out of these cab aggregators account for an estimated 10 lakh commuters. To reverse the migration, a serious effort on the part of BEST officials and the ‘black-yellow’ (kaali-peeli) taxis will be necessary.