Upgraded bus stops to get LED info system

The bus stops in Mumbai will see a much-required upgrade in the days to come. The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) will install LEDbased passenger information systems at 300 bus stops across the city. The Undertaking will also install 40 green bus stops with plants on their rooftops and fitness equipment on the side. The BEST has over 4,000-odd bus stops in the city.

The LED-based stops would exhibit scroll information about routes and bus numbers. Plus the contractors will also be able to advertise on them.

"These would be on the lines of bus stops in other international cities. We will begin transforming 100 stops with an LED system to begin with," said a senior BEST official on condition of anonymity.

Sources also said that these stops will be linked with GPS-installed buses that will display the expected time of arrival (ETA) of buses and route numbers.

Additionally, the BEST is introducing the open garden concept and fitness racks at bus stops. One such has already been installed at Mahalaxmi on pilot basis.

Sources said this is part of a grander plan to revamp 105 bus stops across the city, with 10 in Worli alone.

The watering for these open rooftop gardens will be done through drip irrigation. Eventually, the BEST plans to get corporates to take them over and maintain them under corporate social responsibility.

These bus stops bring in the much required upgrade that the city needs. The BEST needs to ensure that they maintain these open gardens. Vinod Shah Resident of Mahalaxmi The BEST needs to ensure that the buses and its ETA is in sync with the stops so that correct timing can be displayed. Subhash Gupta Resident of Kurla