15 July,2026 07:45 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
A model of the first bus, made by BEST Museum former curator Yatin Pimpale. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
A century after Mumbai's first motorbus hit the roads, bus enthusiasts will recreate the historic journey on July 15 to mark 100 years of motorbus services in the city. The commemorative event aims to pay tribute to the pioneering bus service that transformed urban mobility in the city on July 15, 1926.
The centenary celebrations come at a time when bus enthusiasts have renewed their campaign to extend heritage support for getting funds for the BEST Museum, arguing that the city's bus legacy deserves the same recognition as its railway heritage.
While much of the event is private, a small public trip has been organised as well at the Regal Cinema circle bus stop. The event will bring together bus lovers, transport historians, and former BEST employees to celebrate the milestone with a symbolic heritage ride and a public gathering. The BEST is not officially involved in it.
The Thornycroft A2 Omnibus that was deployed in Mumbai
BEST had been pondering about procuring motorised buses since 1913, but was wary of accidents involving London buses, which had been widely reported. The undertaking decided on February 10, 1926, to start a bus service, and Mumbai saw its first bus run on July 15, 1926, between Afghan Church and Crawford Market. The buses could go where trams couldn't. There was opposition from cabbies and horse buggy drivers, but Mumbaikars received it with enthusiasm, with about six lakh passengers using it in the first year.
Thornycroft was an English company that built vehicles, like buses and trucks, from 1896 until 1977. It was named after ship engineer John Isaac Thornycroft, who had created the Thornycroft Steam Carriage and Van Company and built its first steam van. A fleet of 24 buses was imported for Bombay.
âOver the past 100 years, BEST buses have evolved into one of Mumbai's most recognisable public institutions, carrying millions of commuters and becoming an enduring symbol of the city's identity.'
Ambadas Garje, curator, BEST Museum
âOne little-known fact is that the bus routes that were operated were alphabetical, and it was only in the 1960s, after the closure of tram services, that the routes became in number format. The first bus has a glorious history.'
Yatin Pimpale, former curator, BEST Museum
âEvery celebratory event has its own importance. We celebrated 150 years of the tram car, but sadly, the tram no longer exists. Similarly, we are celebrating 100 years of the bus. Bus numbers are soon expected to grow, and we must celebrate.'
Varun Dikshit, bus enthusiast
âThe first bus put into service on July 15, 1926, was the Thornycroft A2 Omnibus. Built on a sturdy 2-tonne chassis, these compact 20-seaters were designed to be nimble enough to navigate the bustling streets where tram tracks couldn't reach. This model created history by being the first public transport bus in Asia. Between 1928 and 1930, some of these early buses were even equipped with postboxes for passengers to deposit their letters.'
Kunal Tripathi, who runs popular social media handle âMumbai Heritage'
âWhen Mumbai's first motor bus rolled out from Afghan Church in 1926, it wasn't just introducing a new vehicle; it was changing how the city would grow. Over the next century, generations of Mumbaikars measured their lives in bus routes, conductors' whistles, and the familiar red buses. BEST is far more than public transport. It is one of Mumbai's greatest living heritage institutions.'
Afghan Church- Crawford Market
Opera Tram Terminus- Lalbaug
Dadar Tram Terminus- King's Circle
