Paper Details

Name: Manoj Suryakant Varade
Country: India

Year: 2025
Volume: Special Issue: Volume-12, Issue-1, Year: 2025 (January-June)
Page Number: 160-166
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15357013

BrihanMumbai Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking popularly known as BEST was
formally set up as ―Bombay Tramway Company Limited‖ in 1873. Initially horse driven
trams were started and an electric tram-car thereafter. First bus ran on 15th July 1926 in
Mumbai, which was welcomed by the people, just as the electric tram. BEST has taken
several initiatives to serve its commuters and electricity consumers in a better way.
BEST has seen major ups and downs sustaining its uniqueness throughout the country while
providing two uninterrupted essential services like Electric Supply and Transport for citizens
of Mumbai even during calamities like Corona and even competitions from private players
like Ola, Uber as well as Share a Taxi/ Rickshaw. It is known as one of the lifelines of
Mumbai.
This paper analyses the measures and efforts taken by the Management of BEST to provide
the safe Public Transport service to urban commuters dealing with increasing traffic
congestion due to growing number of private vehicles on the road along with uninterrupted
Power Supply to the Consumers at the optimum reasonable cost while doing the business,
though facing financial crisis. BEST has a history. I had an opportunity to work as a PRO in
this company. While working as PRO, I strongly realised that each business has a purpose.
Keywords – Public Relations, Business, Social Purpose