MUMBAI: Sitting within the front row on the upper deck, taking within the breeze and attractions on Marine Drive as the double-decker makes its means along the shoreline would arguably be an enduring reminiscence of existence within the city for most. So it sort of feels entirely apposite that those iconic doubledeckers had been spared the axe—no less than briefly—when the ever-in-decline BEST decided to downsize its fleet through 900 more buses just lately.
All 120 double-deckers will continue operations within the island city and suburbs, with just about 100% presence on roads day by day, BEST officers mentioned Tuesday. BEST has been losing group of workers and vehicles and trimming group of workers allowances to check expenditure as part of reforms suggested through BMC, town’s apex administrative body.
“It has taken 21% of the fleet off roads in fresh months, reducing the strength from 4,200 buses to 3,300. But there are strict instructions to not touch/downsize the double-decker fleet,” mentioned a BEST authentic. Operational prices for double-deckers are 1.five instances those of an strange bus, but delivery managers take pride in its legacy.
BEST offered double deckers in India again within the boom years of the pre-World War II generation. The carrier, modelled on the traces of London's crimson fleet, was launched to deal with the increase in administrative center commuters within the island city. At the time of Independence, BEST had 242 of them; the quantity has frequently dropped over the many years owing to problems with upkeep and financial viability, and is now at 120.
Double-deckers additionally operate in Kolkata, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, and there are plans to reintroduce them in Bengaluru, an authentic mentioned. However in Mumbai, the clock is ticking. The present lot of double-deckers have a couple of more years of existence left in them—they are going to be phased out on the end of this period. “We have no plans to acquire more double-deckers or give orders for building those massive buses with double the carrying capability,” a senior management authentic mentioned.
He agreed that they attract ratings of commuters, especially tourists, and are an integral part of the landscape, but added that price of operations was unsustainably top. “It is Rs70 in line with km for a double-decker compared to Rs45 in line with km for a single-decker. Also, a doubledecker wishes an additional conductor, which adds to establishment prices.
It additionally consumes more gasoline,” an authentic added. In the popular creativeness though, the double-decker stays one of the vital city’s maximum pleasant diversions, enshrined in cinema and memoirs. “It has been an exhilarating journey on the upper deck of those vintage buses. They had been serving commuters since 1937 — from horse-drawn double-deckers to trailer buses and the trendy day motorised twin-deck buses,” mentioned Anil Gangwani, a normal traveller. The journey will quickly end though.
All 120 double-deckers will continue operations within the island city and suburbs, with just about 100% presence on roads day by day, BEST officers mentioned Tuesday. BEST has been losing group of workers and vehicles and trimming group of workers allowances to check expenditure as part of reforms suggested through BMC, town’s apex administrative body.
“It has taken 21% of the fleet off roads in fresh months, reducing the strength from 4,200 buses to 3,300. But there are strict instructions to not touch/downsize the double-decker fleet,” mentioned a BEST authentic. Operational prices for double-deckers are 1.five instances those of an strange bus, but delivery managers take pride in its legacy.
BEST offered double deckers in India again within the boom years of the pre-World War II generation. The carrier, modelled on the traces of London's crimson fleet, was launched to deal with the increase in administrative center commuters within the island city. At the time of Independence, BEST had 242 of them; the quantity has frequently dropped over the many years owing to problems with upkeep and financial viability, and is now at 120.
Double-deckers additionally operate in Kolkata, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, and there are plans to reintroduce them in Bengaluru, an authentic mentioned. However in Mumbai, the clock is ticking. The present lot of double-deckers have a couple of more years of existence left in them—they are going to be phased out on the end of this period. “We have no plans to acquire more double-deckers or give orders for building those massive buses with double the carrying capability,” a senior management authentic mentioned.
He agreed that they attract ratings of commuters, especially tourists, and are an integral part of the landscape, but added that price of operations was unsustainably top. “It is Rs70 in line with km for a double-decker compared to Rs45 in line with km for a single-decker. Also, a doubledecker wishes an additional conductor, which adds to establishment prices.
It additionally consumes more gasoline,” an authentic added. In the popular creativeness though, the double-decker stays one of the vital city’s maximum pleasant diversions, enshrined in cinema and memoirs. “It has been an exhilarating journey on the upper deck of those vintage buses. They had been serving commuters since 1937 — from horse-drawn double-deckers to trailer buses and the trendy day motorised twin-deck buses,” mentioned Anil Gangwani, a normal traveller. The journey will quickly end though.
Double-deckers stay on road, at least for now
![Double-deckers stay on road, at least for now]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
May 10, 2018
Rating:
