Explained: Mumbai’s iconic double decker buses—why they were phased out, and why they have returned to the city’s roads | Explained News,The Indian Express
BEST launched its first double decker e-bus on Thursday, rekindling with a new-age twist Mumbai's 70-year romance with these storied vehicles. When did the classic red double deckers first appear on Mumbai's streets? Why were they phased out?
BEST launched its first double decker e-bus on Thursday (August 18), rekindling with a new-age twist Mumbai’s 70-year romance with these storied vehicles. What made BEST’s double deck buses so iconic for Mumbaikars of a certain age — and why were they phased out?
When did the classic red double deckers first appear on Mumbai’s streets?
The double deckers were introduced to Mumbai by the British in 1937. They were modelled around London’s motorised double decker buses. Over the years, as the city then known as Bombay expanded, the number of these buses increased — reaching as many as 900 in the 1960s, by when they had become one of the city’s most identifiable features.
The double deckers were popular with both tourists and locals. They were capacious, and because of their height, allowed commuters to enjoy an unhindered view of the city. The streets of South Mumbai especially were quieter, less crowded, and more scenic at the time. Older residents of the city continue to recall with fondness the memories of their childhood and youth, travelling on the top deck of the double decker buses, enjoying the city.
Where in Mumbai did these double deckers ply?
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