India’s first electric double-decker AC bus reaches Mumbai, to join BEST fleet: Watch Video

India's first electric double decker AC bus made by Switch Mobility has reached Mumbai, as seen in social media videos. Two new electric buses, including the first air-conditioned double-decker bus in the country, will join the fleet of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST). Switch mobility is an electric vehicle brand of the India's commercial vehicle maker Ashok Leyland and the company has already delivered over 100 electric double decker buses in UK.

Spotted Mumbai's new BEST Double Decker Bus! #BEST #DoubleDecker@myBESTBus @chaloapp @m_indicator @mumbaitraffic @RidlrMUM @traffic_mumbai pic.twitter.com/q5qLIxXrmi — Suraj Wadekar (@WadekarSuraj) August 17, 2022

A single-decker electric bus for app-based premium bus service and a double-decker air-conditioned bus was launched at a function held at NCPA in south Mumbai. The photographs and videos of black and red double-decker bus and blue-coloured single-decker bus have gone viral on social media.

According to BEST officials, the manufacturer of the buses were first unveiled at a function near Mantralaya in south Mumbai on Thursday morning before handing them over to the BEST undertaking.

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The BEST has awarded a contract to a private company for the supply of 900 electric buses in phases. Of these, 50 percent of buses are expected to be delivered by March 2023 and the remaining 50 percent thereafter.

The public transport service provider in Mumbai has planned to launch premium app-based public transport in the city. Officials said that passengers will have to book their seats through the mobile application and they might have to shell out more fares as compared to the conventional buses for this premium service.

BEST is the second biggest mode of public transport in Mumbai after the suburban trains that carry more than 75 lakh passengers daily. BEST ferries more than 30 lakh passengers every day with a fleet of around 3,700 buses.

(With inputs from PTI)