Mumbai's iconic MUTP buses retire, given tearful farewell

The bus was the first to have Fibreglass Reinforce Plastic (FRP) and a semi-aerodynamic shaped front, designed by Dilip Kumar Wagh, BEST’s deputy engineer in the drawing section

Mumbai's braveheart MUTP bus, that had become the face of Mumbai's public transport, retired on Saturday with a farewell and tears. They were named MUTP because they were procured with a World Bank loan in 2005 under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project-2, and the 644 buses had made an entry along with the purple local trains, which were introduced for the first time under the same project.

BEST employees cut cake for the bus on its last ride to Mulund

The bus retires as its codal life of 15 years completes this month. The buses have unfortunately been scheduled for scrap, though bus aficionados have been suggesting that at least one of them needs to be saved for the museum.

"The full-size buses had many firsts back then. It was for the first time that the bus had Fibreglass Reinforce Plastic (FRP) and a semi-aerodynamic shaped front, designed by Dilip Kumar Wagh, BEST's deputy engineer in the drawing section. Due to air suspension on rear axle, passengers on the last seats could sit comfortably without any jerks or pushes having a smoother ride. The Bharat 3 diesel engine with an electronic control device near the front door step, got a very good fuel average of 3.5 km, per litre. The two steps on the door, instead of regular three, made life easier for senior citizens and the disabled," says BEST's museum curator Yatin Pimpale.

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"We wanted to give a respectful farewell to the bus and hence, hired it for a full ride between Sion and Mulund," said Sumedh Tambe, who applied for booking the bus on hire for the last ride on Saturday. BEST spokesperson Manoj Varade confirmed that this was the last remaining bus.

Harshad Joshi, MUTP bus fan, described the bus as a braveheart for Mumbai. "It had seen the toughest of times from being used in the July 26, 2005 rains, to ferrying the commandoes during the 26/11 terror strike, being used for IPL cricket matches to ferry teams and also going across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region during the pandemic. The bus model had become synonymous with Mumbai and has been an all-time favourite."

Last week, yet another bus fan, Rupesh Shelatkar had organised a farewell. "The buses are in good condition. The BEST should have made an effort to save the bus in some form. Our ceremony was conceptually different. Members of Aapli BEST Aplyachsathi decorated the bus, felicitated the bus staff on board also and cut a small cake. In fact, local staff was very unhappy that the bus would be sent to the scrapyard," he said.

"Yes," bus aficionado Gandharva Purohit agreed. "The bus gave a new face to Mumbai's public transport. Now the only hope is on the new buses that the BEST has placed an order for. Mumbaikars are waiting for them," he said.