Finally got to travel in the new A/c B.E.S.T. Buses; here's my inputs:
Pros:
1. less jerky (maybe because of the new automatic gearing (see pic))
2. more spacious
3. less crowded
4. already covering a lot of important routes
5. and the obvious, air conditioned
Cons:
1. less buses in number , leading to less frequency
2. costly for aam janta
3. concerns of emergency protocol, (just one emergency window in the middle, notting at the end)
My only concern point is what if the A/C stops working while the bus is still en route to its destinations?
I asked this particular bus wala (pic) on the same , his reply "we can use the 'fan' system on the A/C" But then that is injustice to commuters who have paid like Rs.30 just to travel by A/C for which a non-A/C would have taken Rs.8
Also, you cannot open the windows as there is no feature for that.
Another soultion given by the Buswalla was to call for a emergency A/c Bus , which seems like a good solution but will take a lot of time of the already agitated commuters.
This is a point of concern and should be dealt by the BEST as soon as possible.
