No more mobile phone speakers: BEST buses go quiet!

PTC News Desk: BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) recently issued an internal notification on April 24, banning passengers from playing videos or songs on mobile phone speakers while travelling on their buses.

Furthermore, loud conversations on phones are prohibited. Failure to follow this new rule can invite action under sections 38 and 112 of the Bombay Police Act.

The notification will be displayed on all the buses and is a welcome initiative according to Rupesh Shelatkar, who heads the NGO Aapli BEST Aaplyasathi. He stated that authorities should find a way to implement the new rule without arguments between passengers and bus staff.

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Tejas Parab, a resident of Dadar, said that these audio and videos can be particularly annoying in air-conditioned buses with closed doors and windows. Naomi Kuruvilla, a student at St Xavier’s College, prefers to read a book while travelling by BEST buses, and believes that mandating the use of headphones or earphones in public transport is necessary.

Anushka Rawatt, a student at Vidyalankar Institute of Technology, voiced her concern that the new rule may be a problem for those who can’t afford devices such as earphones. BEST operates buses in the city and neighbouring Thane, Navi Mumbai and Mira-Bhayander, and more than 30 lakh passengers use the services every day.

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