The bus has officially been retired after clocking more than fifteen years of service across the city’s crowded routes. Pics/Special Arrangement by Rajendra B. Aklekar
With bus 1864’s retirement, all full-sized JNNURM buses inducted under the 2009 scheme have now been withdrawn
Only bus number 1757, repurposed for driver training, remains on the rolls and is expected to retire by early 2027
A handful of midi-sized JNNURM buses still operate, the last of which will go off-road on 15 November 2025
Commuter welfare group Aapli BEST Aaplyasathi ensured that the veteran workhorse did not simply disappear into the depot
Instead, they gave it a farewell filled with heart, nostalgia, and civic pride. For nearly two hours, members of the group, bus enthusiasts, and BEST’s Malvani engineering staff decorated the bus with flowers, garlands, flags, and balloons. At their request, the engineering team repainted the bus in its original red livery, restoring the dignity of its early days
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