Mumbai: Eleven AC double-decker buses rotting in corner of Santacruz depot for over 2 years

The buses have nearly turned into junk. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Mumbai's love for its double-decker buses may be unflinching, but a corner of a Santacruz depot offers a stark contrast. Here a bunch of AC double-decker buses bought for tourist rides is rusting for over two years. While the vehicles have almost turned into junk, the MTDC said it is making an effort to revive them.

"Here are eleven swank double deckers rotting. Mumbai has a special connection with double deckers. Something must be done to bring these back into service," bus enthusiast Shubham Padave said.

The state bought the 'Hop On, Hop Off' or 'Ho Ho' buses in 2016 for about R8 crore. They ran between Mumbai CSMT and Sanjay Gandhi National Park.

With 46 seats, the buses have an air-conditioned lower deck and an open-air upper deck. Each has all the amenities for a small party including a coffee making machine, a microwave oven and an entertainment system. At present Delhi, Goa and Chandigarh have Ho Ho buses.

The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) earlier used BEST's Nilambari, a converted double-decker bus for south Mumbai tours till they got these Ho Ho buses.Padave said MTDC must take steps to bring the buses on roads. "Once operational, they can be really be a hit all the way from Shivaji Park to Gateway of India covering Siddhivinayak, Haji Ali, Babulnath, Marine Lines, Hutatma Chowk and Jahangir Art Gallery which always attract tourists." he said.

Ashutosh Salil, MD, MTDC, said they are keen to revive the buses. He said, "We have tendered for the second time in the last one month. If we get a bidder, we will launch them."

Rs 8cr
Cost of the 11 AC double-decker buses