88% of Mumbai’s 50 lakh vehicles are private, BEST buses lag under 1%

Mumbai’s vehicle population has crossed the 50-lakh mark, with private vehicles continuing to dominate the city’s roads, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Environment Status Report 2024–25. The report highlights that two-wheelers and cars, jeeps and station wagons together account for nearly 88% of all vehicles in Mumbai, while public transport buses make up less than 1%. With 2.94 lakh new vehicles added in April 2024-March 2025, Mumbai’s reliance on private transport raises concerns over traffic, pollution and sustainable mobility.

Key Highlights from the BMC Report:

1. Vehicle Population Surge:

   • Mumbai’s registered vehicles crossed the 50-lakh mark in 2024–25

   • Total count: 50,54,907 vehicles as of March 2025, up from 47,59,976 in April 2024

   • At least 2.94 lakh new vehicles were registered between April 2024 and March 2025, marking a 6.2% rise

2. Breakdown of Vehicle Types:

   • Two-wheelers: 59.34%

   • Cars/jeeps/station wagons: 28.72%

   • Autorickshaws: 5.02%

   • Taxis: 3.27%

   • Goods vehicles: 0.42%

   • Buses: Less than 1% (0.73%)

   • Others (tractors, trailers, misc.): 2.72%

3. Fuel-Wise Distribution:

   • Petrol: 39.83 lakh (78.79%)

   • Diesel: 5.63 lakh (11.15%)

   • CNG: 4.36 lakh (8.6%)

   • Electric Vehicles: 48,854

   • LPG: 11,418

   • Other fuels: 10,832

4. Public Transport Scenario:

   • BEST operates 2,731 buses (612 owned, 2,119 wet-lease).

   • 91% of BEST’s fleet already runs on CNG or electric

   • By 2027, BEST plans to shift to an all-electric fleet, cutting 3.18 lakh tonnes of CO2 annually