Mumbaikars, are you ready to say goodbye to your childhood? Because the iconic Mumbai double-decker red bus will now go off the streets. Mumbai's iconic red buses have been an integral part of the city's commute. It has also been one of the top tourist attractions.

After eight decades of constantly being on the streets, the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) has decided to stop the double-decker buses today.

Mumbai's open-deck double-decker buses, which serve as a tourist attraction for sightseeing and Mumbai Darshan, will also be discontinued from October's first week onward. Since February, BEST has started replacing these iconic buses with battery-run red double-decker AC buses across the city.

The history of the Mumbai double-decker bus

Red double-decker buses were introduced in Mumbai in 1937, and ever since, they have become symbolic of the city. Several Bollywood movies and songs were shot inside these buses.


In the 1990s, the BEST had a fleet of around 900 double-decker buses. However, in the mid-90s, the number gradually began to decline, citing the high maintenance and operation costs. The administration stopped inducting double-decker buses after 2008.

On December 8, 1937, the first double-decker bus started running in Mumbai. It mostly covered the routes in south Bombay. Later in the 1960s, a double-decker trailer bus was introduced.

Bollywood's connection to the Mumbai double-decker bus

From Amitabh Bachchan's Shaan to Akshay Kumar's Mohra, from Taare Zameen Par to Ok Jaanu, Mumbai's double-decker bus has seen the evolution of Hindi cinema. These iconic buses have been featured in many such movies, which adds a nostalgic touch to the scenes.

Let's see some of the movies and songs that featured Mumbai's iconic double-decker bus.

1. Shaan, 1980

The Amitabh Bachchan-Shashi Kapoor starrer featured the double-decker bus in one of its most popular songs, Jaanu Meri Jaan. The entire song was shot on Mumbai's double-decker bus back in 1980. It also featured Parveen Babi and Bindiya Goswami.

2. Mohra, 1994

Ah, the early 90s saw Mumbai very differently. It was the era of evolution, both in the city and in cinema. Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty's Mohra had a scene where the red double-decker bus was featured.

3. Ok Jaanu, 2017

It seems just a while ago that we indulged in the nostalgic bus ride of Mumbai's double decker. Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur took the streets of Mumbai by storm while shooting for a sequence from their film, Ok Jaanu, in the red double-decker bus.


The vehicle made frequent appearances in the 2017 release, giving us a quick recap of our childhood.

Three different films, three different generations, and one constant love for the iconic Mumbai double-decker bus When was the last time you rode on one of these beauties?