Almost a century since motor bus operations commenced in the city, Mumbai’s bus community has demanded that the Union Ministry of Culture bestow a heritage grant on the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Museum in Sion and save vintage double-decker buses by operating them for city events and heritage tours.
Bus enthusiast Shubham B Padave has submitted a proposal to the ministry that calls for reviving Mumbai’s iconic double-decker buses as part of the city’s transport legacy. The proposal suggests restoring two or three old diesel-powered double-deckers as static museum exhibits or limited sightseeing buses for tourists, linking preservation with public engagement.
Making these happen during BEST’s centenary celebrations in July 2026, he argues, would be a symbolic gift to the city and its commuters. The proposal also recommends tapping heritage funds through the Ministry of Culture and monetising retired BEST memorabilia via museums and online platforms.
“Mumbai’s tryst with double-deckers dates back to the 1930s, when the city — then Bombay — joined global capitals like London in operating the towering red buses. For decades, they became inseparable from the city’s skyline, ferrying office-goers past Gothic buildings, sea-facing promenades, and bustling markets. Their gradual withdrawal in the 2000s marked the end of an era, prompting public nostalgia and farewell rallies that drew thousands. My proposal seeks to tap into that nostalgia by restoring two or three old diesel-powered double-deckers and operating them as static heritage exhibits or limited sightseeing buses for tourists,” Padave told mid-day.
Official speak
BEST officials said a few buses have been saved and restored in a static display under the JJ flyover. Also, there is a plan to explore the possibility of shifting the existing museum at Anik depot to a BEST plot near Ambika Mills in Worli, close to the Nehru Science Centre and its museum, so that it is closer to the tourist circuit.
Exhibits at the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Museum at Anik bus depot in Sion East. Pics/Rajendra B Aklekar
Hundred years ago
The first buses that arrived in Mumbai were similar to 20-seaters. BEST had been pondering about procuring motorised buses since 1913, but was wary of accidents involving London buses that had been widely reported. After years of debate, the company came to a decision on February 10, 1926, to start a bus service later that year, and Mumbai saw its first bus run on July 15, 1926, between Afghan Church and Crawford Market. There was initial opposition from cabbies and horse buggy drivers, but Mumbaikars received it with enthusiasm.
Shubham B Padave, BEST bus fan
The BEST Museum, located inside the Anik bus depot in Mumbai, showcases the history of BEST and the city’s public transport system, including the tram car. It displays the remains of old buses, old photographs, tickets, uniforms, and route maps that show how Bombay’s buses evolved over the decades. For transport historians and enthusiasts, the museum offers rare glimpses into how BEST shaped the city’s daily life, connecting neighbourhoods, livelihoods, and generations.
How grant would help
Such grants are given based on artefacts present in a museum, their intrinsic value, and the legacy of Mumbai`s transport history. “We have studied and assessed the artefacts at the BEST museum at Anik, and they are eligible under the regulations to seek a grant from the Union Ministry of Culture. Thus, if BEST applies for a grant scheme to the Ministry of Culture, it will help to get finance for the museum and will reduce part of the burden for the undertaking,” former BEST Museum curator Yatin Pimpale said.
Feb 10, 1926
Day BEST administrators decided to operate motor buses in Mumbai
