End of an Era: Mumbai’s Legendary Double-Decker Bus Takes its Last Ride | Watch

PuneNow, Sept 15, 2023: It’s the end of the road for Mumbai’s iconic non-AC double-decker buses, which have been a mainstay on the city’s streets for over eight decades. The last service left Marol Depot on Friday morning. Alongside these, the open-roof double-decker buses, a tourist favorite for sightseeing since the early 1900s, will also be withdrawn from service from October 5.

“Currently, just seven double-decker buses, including three open-deck buses, are left in the BEST’s fleet. As these vehicles are completing 15 years of their codal life, the double-decker buses will forever go off roads from September 15, while the open-deck buses will be pulled out on October 5,” said a spokesperson for BEST, as quoted by news agency PTI.

Public Reaction

The announcement triggered an emotional response from Mumbai residents, particularly on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). Many users called it the end of an era and reminisced about their past experiences with these iconic red buses.

“Spent my college life commuting in double-decker buses whenever the route allowed. To get the front seat on the upper level was the best. Especially in the monsoon,” one X user posted.

“My last ride today on Mumbai’s iconic and favorite vehicle—the Red double-decker BEST bus. I have fond memories of traveling on this bus during my childhood days, especially on the top deck window seat. Bye Bye Double-decker BEST bus,” wrote another.

Historical Significance

First introduced in 1937, the red double-decker buses quickly became a symbol of Mumbai, featuring in numerous movies and songs. At its peak, the BEST fleet had about 900 of these buses, but the number has been declining since the mid-1990s. New bus introductions were halted by BEST in 2008 due to operational and maintenance reasons.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom for the double-deckers. BEST began replacing these aging buses with leased battery-run red and black double-decker buses earlier in February. The organization also plans to introduce new open-deck buses specifically for tourist sightseeing in the near future.