Which Indian City Has the Oldest Public Bus Transport System?

🧠 Did You Know?

The oldest public bus transport system in India began in Mumbai (then Bombay) nearly a century ago.

On July 15, 1926, the first-ever city bus in India took off from Afghan Church to Crawford Market, operated by the Bombay Electric Supply and Tramways Company — today known as BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport).

📄 Source: Wikipedia - BEST Undertaking

🚌 BEST: India’s Pioneer in Public Bus Transport

Here’s what makes Mumbai the birthplace of Indian bus transport:

• ✅ First bus service in India — began in 1926
• ✅ Over 600,000 passengers served in its very first year
• ✅ Became part of Greater Mumbai’s civic body in 1947
• ✅ Still operates thousands of buses daily across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Mira Road

Even back then, BEST buses had to navigate narrow roads, monsoon puddles, and impatient drivers — just like today!

🏙️ Why Was Mumbai First?

• Mumbai was already a bustling colonial port city in the 1920s
• Trams were limited in reach, while buses offered route flexibility
• Rapid population growth created urgent need for organized mass mobility

The initiative was resisted by taxi unions, but people loved the affordability and reach. The success of Mumbai’s bus system paved the way for similar services in Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, and Bengaluru in the decades that followed.

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