This Monday, Mumbai’s iconic red double-decker buses, a vital component of the city’s public transport for more than eight decades, will stop running. On September 12, a representative of the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking reaffirmed this.
According to the official from the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking, these double-decker buses which also provide sightseeing tours to tourists will be removed from the streets of Mumbai.
These double-decker buses which also provide sightseeing tours to tourists will be removed from the streets of Mumbai.
“Due to their 15-year operational lifespan, Mumbai’s double-decker buses will depart the city’s roads on September 15; in contrast, open-deck buses will depart on October 5,” leading news agency.
“There are now only seven double-decker buses in the fleet of the BEST, including three open-deck vehicles. The double-decker buses will be permanently taken off the road starting on September 15 while the open-deck buses will be removed on October 5, according to a BEST representative.
However, BEST introduced leased battery-operated red and black double-decker buses in February, changing the city’s transit environment. 900 double-decker electric buses with air conditioning have already been ordered. There are already about 25 of these environmentally efficient buses on the road.
The battery-powered double-decker e-buses will be the main means of transportation for tourists until these new additions are available.
In order to ensure that visitors may continue to enjoy the city’s attractions during the changeover, BEST has started the acquisition procedure for open-deck buses specifically designed for tourism. The battery-powered double-decker e-buses will be the main means of transportation for tourists until these new additions are available.
“The renowned red double-decker buses of Mumbai have reached the end of their reign or era. This ushers in a new era of eco-friendly, technologically advanced public transport for the city’s future,” said a BEST official.
