Mumbai: Double-decker fans rush for last ride on iconic bus

Although the BEST undertaking refused to hold an official farewell event, overwhelmed Mumbaikars gathered in large numbers at Andheri on Friday to ride the non-AC double-decker bus one last time, as it drove into the sunset like the tram car did 59 years ago. Cooperating with citizens, the undertaking deputed staff at the local level to look after the arrangements.

Amid multiple cake cuttings, bouquet exchanges and recollection of memories, the crowd swelled to such a point that two policemen present at the depot had to rescue the bus from fans clamouring for photos, rides and selfies. The crowd comprised bus fans, members of NGOs, and other citizens. The bus made small circles around Andheri bus station to satisfy its fans while ensuring that its regular trips weren't compromised.

Two policemen helped manage the crowd of fans in Andheri on Friday. Pic/Aishwarya Deodhar (right) the special souvenir double-decker bus ticket. Pic/Rajendra B. Aklekar

Bus commuter bodies made a special imprint that was stamped behind bus tickets to transform them into special memorabilia. While the regular passenger non-AC double-decker bus went off the road on Friday, the open-deck buses will be pulled out from service on October 5 as they complete their codal life. The term is used to refer to a vehicle's life.

The last old double-decker bus with series number 4047 and registration number MH-01 LA 6629 has been with the Marol depot. It was put into service on route number 415, between Agarkar Chowk Andheri East and SEEPZ. On Friday, it made around 17 trips before returning to Marol depot. It will be taken off duty and lined up for scrap. The bus was readied in its original livery and was decorated with balloons in the front.

Fond memories

"Since childhood, we have identified the old double-decker as the original double-decker. We will miss this old bus. Hence, we gave it the farewell," bus fan Shubham Padave said. "We will all miss the pleasure of sitting at the front window of the upper deck and feeling the breeze on our faces. This is not possible in an AC bus," another bus fan said.

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Commuter rights body Aapli BEST Aaplyasathi has written to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, BMC chief Iqbal Singh Chahal and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar to preserve the last two old double-decker buses.

"We have requested the BEST undertaking to preserve the last two old double-decker buses and display them at the BEST museum for tourists and future generations," said Rupesh Shelatkar, president, Aapli BEST Aaplyasathi. "Mumbai's trams vanished in 1964 without a trace and these are going today," working president Siddhesh Mhatre said.

More AC double-deckers

The BEST undertaking put up a brave face saying it was not the last double-decker but that double-deckers will continue to operate in Mumbai and all of them will now be AC. Over the next nine months, 900 AC double-deckers will be inducted into the fleet on a wet lease. At present, the undertaking has wet-leased 35 AC doubledecker electric buses, of which 16 are on the road and the rest are under trials and approval processes.

The old double-decker buses have been on an 86-year journey. Introduced in the then Bombay in 1937 to cope with the growing number of passengers and based on the red double-deckers of London, the sheer size and look of the buses made them popular from the start.