Mumbai's iconic electric double-decker buses are headed for more roads across the city — but not before undergoing a structural tweak.
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has decided to lower the height of select AC double-decker buses so they can clear low bridges and flyovers that currently block their path.
The AC electric double-decker fleet, introduced on Mumbai's streets over three years ago, has run into a recurring problem: limited overhead clearance at several flyovers. The issue is most acute on the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR), where BEST officials found that the buses barely squeeze under the flyover — and in certain spots, the roof actually grazes its underside.
Route 310, which runs along the SCLR, has been hit hardest by this clearance issue.
At roughly 457 cm tall, the buses are simply too high for comfortable passage at these pinch points. To fix this, BEST has asked bus manufacturer Switch Mobility to trim 17 cm off the height of a portion of the fleet.
BEST committee chairperson Trishna Vishwasrao confirmed the development, clarifying that the height modification won't apply across the board. Only specific buses will be altered, not the entire double-decker fleet.
With around 150 electric double-decker buses still awaiting deployment, BEST and Switch Mobility will jointly assess which of these can undergo the height reduction. A final call will depend on two factors: technical feasibility and cost implications.
The electric double-decker buses were rolled out to replace Mumbai's ageing diesel double-decker fleet. But their height has kept them off several key routes, limiting BEST's ability to deploy them where they're needed most.
Given their popularity with both daily commuters and tourists, BEST is now working to expand their presence on high-traffic, high-demand routes — hence the urgency behind resolving the clearance problem.
Alongside the route expansion, BEST is also reviving a nostalgic favourite: the double-decker tourist bus service.
Vishwasrao has proposed introducing five semi-AC electric double-decker buses dedicated to sightseeing and tourism. These open-style buses were once a Mumbai staple for city tours, birthdays, family outings, and group celebrations.
At its peak, the service reportedly drew 2,000 to 4,000 passengers every weekend, generating close to ₹4 lakh per weekend for BEST. With this revival, the transport body hopes to bring back one of Mumbai's most recognisable tourism experiences — this time, in an all-electric avatar.
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