The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has discontinued one of its oldest routes — Bus Number 1, which used to operate between Colaba and Mahim. This route was also significant as it hosted Mumbai’s first double-decker bus, a Daimler-class vehicle, introduced in 1937.
 
Historically, the route was numbered as Route A during the tram era and was later upgraded to Route Number 1. It used to run between Colaba and Mahim. Many old-timers are nostalgic about this route and have protested against its discontinuation,” said Suryakant Jadhav, a resident of Lalbaug.

In recent years, the Tata electric bus was inaugurated on Route 1. Even during the post-lockdown period, when local trains were not operational for the general public, Route 1 was regularly operated using double-decker buses from the Colaba depot.

One of the first buses on Route 1. Pic/BEST ARCHIVES