Despite incurring losses on double-decker buses, BEST plans to add 100 more to its fleet, as the 'pride of the city' are disappearing from Mumbai

Double trouble: Today, there are just 154 double-decker BEST buses plying on Mumbai's roads compared to 882 in 1993-94. Pic/DATTA KUMBHAR

An enduring symbol of Mumbai, the double-decker BEST bus is increasingly disappearing from the streets, due to higher running costs. Today, there are just 154 double-decker BEST buses plying on Mumbai's roads compared to 882 in 1993-94. But despite the economic constraints, BEST is planning to add 100 more buses to its fleet soon, as they are the "pride of the city".

"We incur heavy losses by running double-deckers, as the operating cost is more, despite carrying the same number of passengers as single-deckers," said a senior BEST official. However, BEST does not plan to phase out these buses. Pravin Chheda, BEST committee chairperson, said, "We cannot phase out these buses because they are the pride of the city. They may not be economically viable, but we will still continue to run them."

Chheda added that BEST had bought 50 new double-decker buses last year.

A BEST official said that during peak hours, the number of passengers travelling on single and double-decker buses are the same. However, two conductors are needed on each double-decker bus. According to him, since standing is not allowed on the upper deck, most passengers have to be accommodated on the lower deck. The seating capacity of a single decker bus is 51 passengers and about 21 standees whereas double-decker buses has a seating capacity of 35 passengers on the lower deck, 43 on the upper and 11 standees in total.

In 2006, BEST had decided to phase out 70 per cent of double-decker buses. Uttam Khobragade, general manager, BEST, had earlier said that it made sense to scrap these buses.

Double-decker buses were introduced in Mumbai in 1937, but their numbers started dwindling rapidly after 1995.

AC double-deckers in six months

In all likelihood, the new air-conditioned double-decker buses will be seen on the streets of Mumbai in six months. Pravin Chheda, BEST committee chairperson, said, "We are in the final stages of deciding a few things for the AC buses. If everything goes well, we will see these buses on the roads in six months." The approximate cost of a double-decker air-conditioned bus is Rs 1.25 crore. A non-AC double-decker bus costs u00a0Rs 40 lakh.

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Phased out in UK

Double-decker buses were introduced in London in 1956. Because of difficulties in accommodating disabled passengers, losses and increasing accidents, the last remaining Routemaster (pic) retired in 2005. However, there are two heritage routes, where double-deckers still ply.

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At present, double-decker BEST buses are plying only on the following routes:

138- CST to Backbay Depot 125- Navy Nagar to Worli Village 171- Worli Dairy to Antop Hill 203- Juhu Beach to Dahisar Bridge 268- Andheri station to Swami Samarth Nagar 310- Kurla station (w) to Bandra Terminus 311- Kurla station (w) to Santacruz station (east) 313- Kurla station (w) to Santacruz station (east) 332- Kurla station (w) to Agarkar Chowk 361- Mahul Village to Kurla station (east) 390- Kurla station (w) to bandra Terminus 415- Agarkar Chowk to Seepz

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