India, Jan. 13 -- Nearly 40 per cent of Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) buses will be unavailable for commuters for two days starting Tuesday night, as over a thousand buses are being used for election duty ahead of the civic polls scheduled for Thursday.

According to BEST officials, 1,065 buses will be deployed for election-related work from Monday night until Thursday, leading to a noticeable reduction in bus availability across the city. The shortage is expected to increase waiting time at bus stops and affect trip schedules. "These buses will not operate at full strength during this period, which may impact passenger waiting times and journey durations," a BEST official said.

The buses-both air-conditioned and n...