Aditya Anand / Mid Day

Mumbai, May 3: It came as a blessing to Mumbaikars, but like all good things, it came to an end.

The air-conditioned, low-floor, handicapped-friendly Star buses, which operated round the clock between Sahar airport and CST, will not be operational any more, as BEST found the buses going empty. However, passengers say the buses, which operated every 30 minutes, were a hit and would be sorely missed.

Says Sandeep Navare (28), an executive, who often flies into Mumbai late at night, “Passengers are made to wait like fools at the bus stop. There is no notice that announces that the service has been discontinued,” he rued. Instead, it’s the cabbies and autorickshaw drivers who convey the news to the waiting passengers.

Added Rekha Rao (33), another regular, “We have no option but to take a cab and get fleeced.”

A BEST official informed that the buses could not attract a good response from the public and were a loss-making venture. But officials added that the buses would run through the day.

BEST committee member Pravin Chheda revealed, “The buses were launched for the passengers who arrive in the city during the late night hours and don’t have any other means of transport, but unfortunately we made losses.”