Nearly a month after restricting a section of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) route 318, which links Kurla West and Santacruz East through Mumbai University’s Vidyanagari campus, the university administration has now permitted the service to resume inside the premises. The route had earlier been partially suspended due to security-related concerns. Route 318 is considered important for students and staff travelling across the sprawling Kalina campus, as it offers easier access to different academic departments and facilities. The decision to restore the route is expected to bring relief to daily commuters who were inconvenienced after the bus service was diverted outside the university gates last month.
The BEST bus service had originally operated through the university campus, making travel easier for students who depended on it to move between various locations within the large Vidyanagari complex. However, in March, the route was modified and buses were instructed to halt only outside the campus boundaries. The move came after university authorities raised concerns over security issues allegedly linked to former research student Rajesh Balkhande. Balkhande had reportedly been staging a prolonged protest on campus over the unaided status of the Pali department. The altered route caused inconvenience for many students who relied on the internal bus connectivity for commuting within the university area.
Following directions issued by the Bombay High Court, former PhD scholar Rajesh Balkhande eventually vacated the university campus, where he had been holding a sit-in protest for several months. After the issue was resolved, the university administration decided to restore the earlier bus arrangement. Registrar Prasad Karande confirmed that the BEST authorities had been informed to restart services within the campus and said the route would soon operate normally once official procedures were completed. Meanwhile, during the university’s budget session, officials also revealed plans to improve transport facilities by introducing battery-operated vehicles. Around Rs 30 lakh has reportedly been earmarked for purchasing nearly five eco-friendly vehicles for internal campus travel.