u/Altruistic_Cricket_1

A few weeks back, my car had gone to the garage, and out of pure curiosity (plus a little necessity), I started using BEST buses again after years. Last time I properly travelled in them was probably during school/college days, and my memories were mostly of overcrowded buses, long waiting times, confusion about routes, sweating in Mumbai heat, and conductors yelling destinations over traffic noise.

But man, the experience now is surprisingly good.

The AC buses especially are such a game changer. Clean, comfortable, and honestly way more peaceful than sitting in traffic while driving yourself. And the frequency has improved a LOT on many routes. I expected to stand around waiting forever, but buses were actually coming on time more often than not.

And the Chalo app deserves serious appreciation. That app alone changes the entire experience. Live tracking, exact bus routes, ETA, knowing whether the bus is 2 mins away or 20 mins away — it removes that old uncertainty completely. Earlier taking a bus felt like a gamble. Now it actually feels organised.

What also shocked me was how affordable it still is.

I travelled from Bandra to Juhu for literally ₹12. ₹12.

In a city where stepping out of the house itself somehow costs money, travelling that distance comfortably for ₹12 honestly felt unreal. Meanwhile, one auto guy will quote ₹250 and still drive like he’s in Fast & Furious.

And weirdly, travelling by bus also made me notice Mumbai again. You’re not stressed about parking, fuel, honking, potholes, or someone scratching your car. You just sit near the window, put earphones on, and watch the city move.

Obviously the system still has flaws and there’s room to improve, but compared to what BEST used to feel like years ago, this has been a massive upgrade.

Never thought I’d say this, but Mumbai’s buses are actually underrated now.