BEST to run 22 extra buses for Chhath Puja on November 15 and 16, with Juhu Beach routes

Anticipating large crowds of devotees at beaches, ponds and chowpatties in Mumbai for Chhath Puja, the BEST administration has planned a special bus service. A total of 22 additional buses are to be run on November 15 and 16, 2026.

On Sunday, November 15, 15 additional buses will be deployed in the evening. The special service will begin at 2 pm. Buses will run towards Juhu Beach from Santacruz West, Andheri West, Majas Depot, Malvani Depot and Borivali West. The additional service is planned on bus routes 231, 203, 339, A-256 and A-203.

On Monday, November 16, six to seven additional buses will run between 6 am and 7.30 am. A bus service will also be available from Juhu Beach and Juhu bus station for the return journey towards Santacruz West, Andheri West and Borivali West.

Special arrangements have been made in view of the crowds of devotees at Juhu Beach, Dadar Chowpatty, Powai and the Gorai Creek area. Depot managers at Backbay, Worli, Santacruz, Oshiwara, Malvani, Gorai, Dindoshi, Vikroli and Mulund have been given special instructions.

The decision comes amid a row over Chhath Puja. Chhath Puja songs are being played loudly over public loudspeakers at Mumbai's local railway stations, which has angered people. The MNS and the Uddhav Sena have raised their voices against what they call the railways' high-handedness. Some angry commuters and citizens have also sought a reply from the railway administration. It has been made clear that the objection is not to Chhath Puja but to this cultural suppression.

MNS banners have appeared in Kalyan East. After the row over Bhojpuri songs, the MNS has turned aggressive on the issue of the Marathi language. The banner reads: "In Maharashtra, first respect to the Marathi language, to Marathi people, everyone else later!" The banners in Kalyan East have been put up by the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena.

Bhojpuri songs have been played at railway stations for the past two days on the occasion of Chhath Puja, heating up Maharashtra's political climate. After the row over the songs at stations, the MNS banners in Kalyan East are now being discussed, and they have brought the issue of Marathi identity back into the conversation.