Mumbai's iconic open double-decker buses are scheduled to completely retire in October 2023. These buses, introduced in 1997, have become an iconic tourist experience.
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) first introduced the open double-deck buses on January 26 1997, in collaboration with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). They quickly became popular in the city.
Now, these buses are set to be retired this month because of old age. The demolition schedule is as follows: the first open-deck bus will be taken out of service on September 16, followed by the other two on September 25 and October 5.
These buses can carry between 150 and 250 passengers daily. They were especially popular during the night, on holidays, and even during the monsoon season. Although there were originally five of these buses, only three remain in operation now.
The open-deck buses offered customised rides that start from Colaba and include stops at iconic landmarks like the Gateway of India. These hour-long rides cost INR 400 in south Mumbai and provide informative tours of the city's heritage sites. They also provided half-hour rides, which are available for INR 180.
These double-decker buses have been an integral part of Mumbai's public transportation system since they were introduced in 1937. The future of these buses is uncertain. BEST had plans to purchase 50 new open-deck buses last year. But the cost led to authorities delaying the tender.
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