Mumbai‘s iconic BEST transport service is celebrating its sesquicentennial anniversary in the city! The legendary transport service completed 150 years of service in Mumbai on May 9. And to give a glimpse of its evolution over the centuries, BEST is hosting a special exhibition where you can even catch its early transport models! Read on to know more.
Best Completes 150 Years In Mumbai; Exhibition Reflects History
On May 9, 1874, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) started transport services in Mumbai, then Bombay. This iconic transport service has now completed 150 years of operations in the city! And to mark this achievement, BEST is hosting a special exhibition. This exhibition is being held at the BEST Museum in Sion and is showcasing the evolution of their services – from a horse-pulling tram to double-decker AC buses.
The exhibition is on till Saturday, May 11 from 10 AM to 5 PM. You can catch the first-ever horse trams in Mumbai at the exhibition as well. The main aim is to make people more aware of this service’s evolution over the centuries. Also, the entry to this exhibition is free.
The History Of The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking
According to the mentions in the book ‘The BEST Story’, the first transport services provided by BEST were horse-pulled ‘Shigram’ and bullock-drawn ‘Rekla.’ The horse-drawn trams were run on the routes – Colaba to Pydhonie via Crawford Market and Bori Bunder to Pydhonie. This service was started with 20 trams and 200 horses! It was in the early 1900s that the BEST Tramways Company was renamed BEST Electric Supply and Tramways Company Limited. Decades later, it was again renamed as Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking (BEST).
BEST and Mumbai have evolved so much in the last century! It is heartening to see how a public transport system that was relevant 150 years ago has transformed itself with time to be still relevant in the city! How’s the public transport facility in your city? Let us know in the comments!
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva & Wikipedia
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