The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking, has put into immediate effect, a ban on having loud conversations on cell phones and playing audio clips/videos on mobile devices without headphones while travelling aboard its buses. A notification in this regard was issued on April 24.  “We used to have such restrictions earlier for radios and now they are here for cell phones. We received a lot of complaints from commuters about this and hence the order has been issued,” said Lokesh Chandra, General Manager, BEST.

The notification states that BEST buses are public service vehicles and hence, to avoid any kind of inconvenience or trouble caused by anyone to co-passengers, action can be taken against offenders under section 38/112 of the Bombay Police Act. “The regulation is for all passengers travelling on BEST buses. The public is required to use headphones while watching videos or listening to audio clips on their mobile devices,” a spokesperson said.