Mumbai: Commuters faced a harrowing time for the third consecutive day as buses remained off the roads outside Kurla (West) station premises on Thursday. Commuters were seen standing around bus stops looking confused for five to 10 minutes before realising there was no bus service in the area.
BEST has stopped bus services temporarily in the area, which is in the vicinity of Monday’s fatal bus crash site on the Kurla station road.
BEST, which runs more than a dozen busy routes outside Kurla (West) station, did not operate any as they received instructions from the police in the interest of “public safety”. Buses are being operated from Kurla depot on LBS Marg.
“Why has BEST stopped bus services? The incident took place on Monday night, and even today (Thursday), not a single bus is being operated from the station area,” said Mohammed Khan, a local resident. A woman commuter said, “We stand in long queues for autorickshaws, but there are very few in the normal stands. Share autos are expensive and carry four passengers, with one sitting next to the driver.” People alighting from trains with luggage were left stranded. TOI witnessed several auto refusals. Activists demand alternate transport. — Somit Sen
