The last non-AC double-decker bus in Mumbai made its final run on Friday, marking the end of an era for a well-known landmark. In compliance with the RTO regulation, which mandates that buses be retired after 15 years of service, this decision was made.
This well-known bus has long been a daily necessity for Mumbai’s diverse population, which includes office workers, students, and retirees. On the day of its closure, a long queue of commuters formed for one last excursion. Everyone could remember their earlier experiences on the bus as it traveled from Agarkar Chowk to SEEPZ in Andheri East until 9:30 PM.
Rupesh Sheletkar, the head of the neighborhood group “Aapli BEST Aaplyachsathi,” expressed condolences for the city. In Andheri, the bus was honored with cake, flowers, and balloons. For numerous people in Mumbai, this bus serves as more than just a means of transportation. For its Arnik bus museum in Sion, Sheletkar and his crew urged BEST to preserve this distinctive vehicle. They argue that future generations should be able to see and comprehend it.
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However, Mumbai still has double-decker buses in service. BEST promised that the double-decker bus service will continue. Currently, there are 16 AC double-deckers, and more are anticipated. Additionally, 20 brand-new open double-decker buses for the well-known Mumbai Darshan trips will shortly be added to the fleet. The last double-decker bus without air conditioning, however, will be taken out of service in October.
In a city that never sleeps, the retirement of this bus signals the end of one era and the beginning of another. Even as more modern, contemporary buses are introduced to the roads, Mumbai will continue to remember the legacy of the double-decker bus.
