Only a handful of the iconic buses were plying on the roads of Mumbai, dwindling from a total of 900 decades ago. BEST said that it has another three open-deck buses, which will be pulled out on October 5. The vehicles will forever go off the roads of Mumbai as they’ve completed 15 years of their codal life.
The buses quickly became popular among the Mumbaikars, who appreciated their spaciousness and the panoramic view they offered.
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The buses have also been featured in many Bollywood films and songs, cementing their place in Mumbai’s popular culture. In recent years, however, the buses have become increasingly outdated and inefficient, even more so when the country is eyeing to reduce its carbon emissions.
In addition to the nostalgia factor, the double-decker buses also played an important role in Mumbai’s public transportation system. They were able to carry more passengers than single-decker buses, which made them a more efficient way to transport people around the city.
On the other hand, BEST has so far deployed 25 battery-powered red and black double-decker buses to make up for the retiring legend. However, Mumbaikars have expressed that these buses are way more advanced than the OG double-decker buses but on the emotional front, they still are attracted to the retiring fleet.
With inputs from PTI.
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Watch Mumbai’s iconic double-decker buses bid farewell after 80 years on city road