Mumbai: As second electric double decker bus hits the road, commuters seek changes

MUMBAI: Bus enthusiast Rohit Dhende, who traveled in the city's second electric double decker said on Wednesday that there were few problems with the second bus which was started from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to Cuffe Parade on route 138.
One of the problems, he said, was the position of the rear view mirror for the driver, where the driver had to bend a little to see the mirror and this could distract his focus from driving.
"Another issue was the need of a rod near the front exit door for passengers to hold as in its absence, they can fall on the dashboard if the driver applies sudden brake. Also, the bus bell is situated just over the head of passengers getting down and any tall person can get hurt," he said.
Another passenger said there was a requirement of a CCTV camera on the rear end of the bus so that the driver can monitor through his screen the passengers getting in the bus before closing the door. "He can also see if any baggage is stuck while closing the door," he said. He will be submitting these suggestions to BEST authorities soon. For the first bus, a list of suggestions were made by bus enthusiasts and commuters to which BEST senior officials said they will inform the manufacturer and will then "take a final call."
The suggestions have been sent to the R&D of the manufacturer. A BEST official said that commuter suggestions were welcome, and wherever possible, changes will be introduced to ensure they do not face inconvenience.